Natural Resource Types and Conflict Termination Initiatives
Publisher: Colombia Internacional
Author(s): Philippe Le Billon
Date: 2009
Topics: Land, Livelihoods, Peace Agreements, Renewable Resources
Countries: Colombia
There is mounting evidence that natural resources can influence the likelihood, course and outcome of armed conflicts. Much of these relationships depend on the institutional setting in which the conflict and resource exploitation occurs, and the specific characteristics of resources involved. This paper examines the relevance of two broad resource characteristics-lootability and legality-for conflict termination initiatives. Observing revenue sharing, economic sanction and military interventions in a total of 26 conflicts between 1989 and 2006, the paper suggests that resource characteristics can affect the effectiveness of resource-related conflict termination instruments.