Our research offers a critical reassessment of the resource curse, examining how ethnicity and oil wealth interact to shape conflict dynamics across different global contexts. We investigate the varied pathways through which oil resources and ethnic disparities can contribute to or lessen the risk of violence.

Employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, we analyze the complex relationship between natural wealth, governance, and ethnic relations. Our study moves from a global perspective to in-depth examinations of specific regions, emphasizing the mechanisms influencing conflict.

“Rethinking the Resource Curse” provides a multifaceted framework for understanding the conditional effects of oil wealth on conflict. Our research yields policy recommendations for balancing natural resource exploitation with sustainable and inclusive development. This study contributes to the discourse on natural resources, conflict, and development, providing stakeholders with the tools needed to build stability and prosperity.

Working Paper
Authors: Mohammad Aghdam & Hamid E. Ali