Crit Minerals Resource Curse

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Let’s hope they don’t discover oil here. Then we’d have real problems.” So says a stunned survivor from a destroyed village in the movie Blood Diamond. Natural resources have been at the root of human conflict for millennia, and for much of that time, the main response to resources-driven conflict was more conflict. Like the villagers in the movie, many have come to view the discovery and exploitation of natural resources as a curse that ultimately leads to corruption, bloodshed, and environmental degradation. In recent decades, however, the United States, the broader international community, and the private sector have developed a range of legal, policy, and regulatory approaches to curb resource-focused conflict and corruption, seeking to turn the curses into blessings. These range from certification systems (such as the Kimberley Process for conflict diamonds), reporting mechanisms (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative), due diligence standards (OECD Due Diligence Guidance), industry standards (Responsible Jewelry Council) and economic sanctions (import prohibitions and specific, targeted sanctions). In this course, we will examine these recent approaches through specific case studies and interrogate whether they can "work" through the lenses of governments (both Western and non-Western), industry, civil society, and local communities.