The Politics of Natural Resources: The “Resource Curse” and Beyond - Dr Naosuke Mukoyama
This module introduces students to the key concepts, theories, and issues in the politics of natural resources. Resource-rich states have experienced various political problems including authoritarianism, civil war, and international aggression, attributing them to the very presence of resource wealth. These issues are collectively called the "resource curse" and have received much scholarly attention since the turn of the century.
This course reviews the development of this literature and seeks to go beyond it, discussing how we can connect it to the broader scholarship on the politics of (natural) resources. It does so by extending the scope of the theory of three grounds: timeframe, issues, and resources. When did the political impact of natural resources begin? What other issues do they lead to? Is it just about oil? If not, what distinguishes resources with political impacts from those without?
The aim of the module is to give students the tools to understand how the geological, geographical, historical and social settings of a country can affect its politics. It also aims to help them develop the ability to critically analyse contemporary political issues and sometimes think outside the box in explaining their causes.