DR. JOSHUA EASTIN
Josh Eastin is a Professor of Political Science at Portland State. His research examines how environmental change and economic deprivation shape political behavior, conflict, and inequality. His research investigates how climate shocks and declining subsistence resources influence individual and household decision-making, particularly in communities affected by civil conflict and state fragility. Recent projects examine the social and political consequences of livelihood insecurity, including why people join armed groups and how environmental instability can fuel violence and undermine community security. His work has also explored how gender shapes vulnerability to environmental change, including how climate-related pressures affect women’s economic independence, household bargaining power, and political voice, especially in agrarian societies. Professor Eastin draws on extensive fieldwork experience and employs a range of methods, including household surveys, interviews, ethnography, and geospatial and statistical analysis. His research spans multiple countries and addresses key questions in environmental politics, conflict studies, and gender and development. By centering the lived experiences of people confronting climate stress and economic marginalization, his work aims to inform more just and effective responses to global environmental challenges.