Resource politics in sub-Saharan Africa

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Natural resources have often been linked to Africa’s challenges, including poverty, corruption, dictatorship, and conflict. The ongoing discussion about the “resource curse” in sub-Saharan Africa is intensifying, particularly due to the oil boom in the Gulf of Guinea, which has raised both expectations and concerns. U.S. officials now view African oil as a national security issue, while China's growing interest in the region underscores the global competition for resources. Various initiatives, like the “Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative” and the “Kimberley Process,” aim to mitigate the negative impacts of resource exploitation. However, the topic is more complex than mainstream literature suggests. Countries like Botswana and Namibia demonstrate that resource wealth does not automatically lead to a “curse.” This edited volume shifts the focus from the “resource curse” to “resource politics,” exploring the intricate dynamics of political and socio-economic structures related to natural resources. The first part examines the economic aspects of the resource curse and the oil sector, featuring case studies from Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The concluding section discusses intervention measures, including water-conflict cooperation in Southern Africa and theoretical challenges for future research.