Climate Change, Migration and Conflict in the Middle East

Featured Speaker: Professor Hisham Foad

The future of the Middle East will be shaped by three
key intertwined factors: climate change, migration
and conflict. Climate change in the region most starkly
manifests in the form of dwindling water resources,
magnifying food insecurity. This in turn accelerates
“climate migration,” increasing the risk of conflict
over scarce resources. Conflict in turn further strains
resources by weakening institutions and infrastructure
as well as adding refugees to the migrant population.
This lecture will examine the intersections of these
dynamics in the Middle East and will explore potential
solutions to this impending crisis.

Presenter Biography

Hisham Foad is Associate Professor
and the Fred J. Hansen Peace Chair at San Diego
State University. He received his B.A. from Kenyon
College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from
Emory University. Foad’s research focuses on the
interactions between the movements of capital,
goods and people across national borders. He has
taught a wide range of courses at SDSU including
two courses he developed: the Economics of
Inequality and the Economics of the Middle East.

Coordinator: Kamesh Gupta