Feeding the Caliphate? Agricultural Activity in ISIS Zones of Iraq and Syria

Conflict does not necessarily lead to less agricultural activity. As the ISIS example clearly shows, it is critical to understand the underlying dynamics of armed conflict and land use.

by Lina Eklund

In 2014, the world became aware of a new militant group, known as the Islamic State (ISIS), which by June of that year had declared the establishment of a caliphate – a state based on “Islamic principles” – in Iraq and Syria. The group took control of large areas of land, and by September 2014, was in control of a large share of the Tigris…