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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Dousing The Flames of Resource Wars |
| Author: | Vines, Alex |
| Year: | 2006 |
| Periodical: | South African Journal of International Affairs |
| Volume: | 13 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Pages: | 85-100 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Africa |
| Subjects: | civil wars governance natural resources arms embargo Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Politics and Government Economics and Trade Military, Defense and Arms |
| Link: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10220460609556804 |
| Abstract: | The World Bank has stated that the availability of portable, high-value resources is an important reason that rebel groups form and civil wars break out. The focus is on rebel groups, and the thesis is that greed, rather than grievance alone, impels people towards internal armed conflict. The present author, however, states that this theory pays insufficient attention to how government mismanagement of resources and revenues fuels conflict and human rights abuses. He argues that control over resources gives such governments - for example, Angola - a strong incentive to maintain power; unaccountable governments with large revenue streams at their disposal - such as Liberia - have multiple opportunities to divert funds for illegal purposes; armed conflict can be exacerbated by the actions of third-party governments seeking to profit from resource-rich neighbours - such as Rwanda and Uganda in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In conclusion, the author examines the illicit trade in arms in Africa as well as arms control initiatives, stressing the need for consistent strategies to promote transparency and accountability of African governments in order to address ongoing and potential conflicts. Ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |
