Pillage of Natural Resources

The session aims to introduce participants to the impact of natural resources on armed conflicts. The idea is to suggest a number of possible scenarios based on the principle that different resources have different effects. It is important to distinguish legal natural resources from illegal ones, renewable from non-renewable resources, geographically concentrated resources from those that are more spread out, and resources situated near power centres from those in the periphery. Through this exercise of differentiation, we will identify key actors and their interests regarding the continuing pillage of natural resources as well as their willingness to perpetuate conflicts.

Lecturer :

Jean-François Gagné
Université de Montréal