Fuelling War: Natural Resources and Armed Conflicts

A generous endowment of natural resources should favor rapid economic and social development. The experience of countries like Angola and Iraq, however, suggests that resource wealth often proves a curse rather than a blessing. Billions of dollars from resource exploitation benefit repressive regimes and rebel groups, at a massive cost for local populations. ThisAdelphi Paperanalyzes the economic and political vulnerability of resource-dependent countries; assesses how resources influence the likelihood and course of conflicts; and discusses current initiatives to improve resource governance in the interest of peace. It concludes that long-term stability in resource-exporting regions will depend on their developmental outcomes, and calls for a broad reform agenda prioritizing the basic needs and security of local populations.

Philippe Le Billon is Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia with the Department of Geography and the Liu Institute for Global Issues.