Environmental Determinism vs Possiblism

So this topic was inevitable when talking about whether environmental changes could cause societies to collapse.

For those of you who don't know environmental determinism is the concept that ' the physical environment can affect and limit the development of societies'. The theory began Ancient Greece by Hippocrates who stated 'in well watered regions the people will be lazy and incoherent whilst people from rougher environments will be hard, lean and articulate'. This idea became very popular in the USA where it was advocated by Friedrich Ratzel and Ellen Semple. However, the theory is highly controversial and quickly lost pace as the view that people and their success was determined just by their environment is seen as simplistic and practically ignores innovation and downplays human ingenuity. 

Another theory that tries to overcome the limitations of environmental determinism is possibilism. Ancient Grecian Strabo suggested that 'men flourish in any latitude' and that different environmental conditions instead offer pathways with choices for development. 

The difference between environmental determinism and possibilism (Source:Buzzle)

Looking at the past and trying to understand why some societies decline through this blog whilst the environment does affect how societies operates and poses challenges to them they do not control what happens to a society. How societies respond to challenges is key to their development and where some past societies have prospered and others failed is most likely due to a combination of issues that were present in the society. Moreover, in the casestudies explored in this blog it seems that societies did have some resilience to changes in their environment and that if environmental conditions did place extreme pressures on societies (e.g. food, water, resource scarcity) it was these knock-on effects that caused societies to decline. Looking forward it seems likely that whilst climate change and negative environmental impacts will affect societies, the way we respond to such challenges (e.g. COP21) -alongside continual improvements in technology, research and knowledge- will be the main determinant of how societies develop.

Overall, the environment and societies have a two-way relationship and any societal collapses are often the cause of a multitude of effects which environmental change may be a factor.

Disclaimer: This blog and blogger in no way advocates environmental determinism! (she knows too well that procrastination has nothing to do with where you are - sorry Hippocrates).