Sampling bias in environmental peacebuilding research

Abstract

Sampling bias poses enormous challenges to research as it can undermine the validity of results, cause significant knowledge gaps, result in research that is driven by convenience rather than need and limit the ability to provide policy advice. In this study, I assess potential sampling biases in the rapidly emerging research field of environmental peacebuilding based on a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature. The field frequently engages with difficult cases which are hard to access and/or unlikely to confirm theories, hence reducing concerns about sampling by convenience and result validity. By contrast, there are clear knowledge gaps regarding countries highly vulnerable to environmental change, regarding the Pacific region and Latin America, regarding intra-state peacebuilding dynamics in Asia, and regarding countries with weak or isolated civil societies. Voices from the Global South and female scholars are relatively well represented, but further improvements are desirable. Addressing these issues would support environmental peacebuilding in challenging one-sided environment-conflict narratives, adding to the wider peacebuilding literature, and providing policy advice on sustainable peace.