Mineral Resources and Conflict: An Analytical Overview

Abstract

The current chapter discusses the role of inequalities and grievances in extraction-based conflicts and introduces the four-step analytical framework applied in this volume: Step 1 looks at the identification of the relevant actors, the extractors on one hand and the local community on the other. Step 2 investigates the types of grievances which are articulated. Thereby we differentiate between distributive, migration-induced, political and environmental grievances. Step 3 analyzes how resource extraction affects community mobilization while step 4 investigates the reaction of the extractors. Apart from the framework, this chapter also discusses two important advances in the literature to which this volume intends to contribute. First, and in line with more recent contributions, is the focus on endogeneity. This is an important problem in our respect as both reverse causality as well as omitted variable bias are expected to be commonplace. Second, is the shift in the discussion from fuel to non-fuel mineral extraction. Whereas earlier contributions focused primarily on oil and gas, the current mining boom has increased the relevance of non-fuel minerals which have so far received less attention in the conflict literature.