Mining for peace: diamonds, bauxite, iron ore and political stability in Guinea

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Periodical article

Title:	Mining for peace: diamonds, bauxite, iron ore and political stability in Guinea
Author:	Bah, Mamadou Diouma
Year:	2014
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy (ISSN 0305-6244)
Volume:	41
Issue:	142
Pages:	500-515
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Guinea
Subjects:	conflict prevention natural resources political stability poverty
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2014.917370
Abstract:	This article explores the relationship between mineral resources and conflict management in Guinea. Literature on theories of recent civil wars and/or armed conflicts in West Africa identifies the combination of abundant natural resources and extreme poverty as a significant trigger of violent civil conflicts. In Guinea, however, despite this combination, the state has managed to avoid large-scale civil violence. This gives rise to the question of why this combination has failed to be associated with the onset of large-scale violence in the country. The article identifies mitigating factors that have contributed to political stability in Guinea. It concludes that measures taken by Guinea and its international partners mitigated the security threats posed by these resources, while keeping most Guineans in abject poverty. This is in contrast to findings in recent quantitative studies whereby natural resource abundance alongside extreme poverty is strongly associated with armed conflicts in West African nations. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]