Chapter 7: Breaking the Link Between Resources and Repression
Michael Renner
In several countries around the developing world, abundant natural resources are at the root of the matter-either triggering violent conflict or financing its continuation. In fact, about a quarter of the 49 wars and armed conflicts waged during 2000 had a strong resource dimension. And many of them are taking place in areas of great environmental value.
In some cases, groups initiate violence to gain and maintain control over lucrative resources. In others, the pillaging of oil, minerals, metals, gemstones, or timber allows wars to continue that were initially caused by other factors, such as unresolved grievances or ideological struggles, as seen in Sierra Leone (diamonds) and Afghanistan (emeralds, lapis lazuli, heroin). Conflict has also erupted in countries such as Columbia (oil) and Indonesia (timber, natural gas), where the benefits accrue to a small elite while the social and environmental burdens are borne by local communities.
World Summit priorities: Developing stronger global certification systems for diamonds, timber, and other resources to make it easier to screen out those produced and traded illicitly in conflict areas. And securing better compliance with U.N. sanctions against illicit resource trafficking by improving the capacity of the United Nations, regional and international organizations, and governments to monitor and enforce embargoes.
- The Relationship Between Resources and Conflict
- Anatomy of Resource Conflicts
- How Conflicts Are Financed by Natural Resource Pillage
- How Resource Extraction Triggers Conflict
- Sanctions, Certification Systems, and Economic Diversification