Unit 10 - role of natural resources Flashcards
What is the ‘resource curse’ theory?
The theory suggests that resource-rich regions frequently experience instability due to competition over control of these assets, often leading to negative economic and political outcomes.
The resource curse is also known as the paradox of plenty, where countries with abundant natural resources tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes.
What is the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus?
A system where water, energy, and food are deeply interdependent, creating a cycle where scarcity or mismanagement of one resource affects the others, heightening geopolitical tensions.
Water is essential for energy production and agriculture; energy powers water distribution and food processing; food systems rely on both.
Fill in the blank: The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile threatens water access for _______’s agriculture.
Egypt
The dam prioritizes hydropower for Ethiopia, which risks regional conflict over water resources.
What motivated Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990?
Resource acquisition, particularly oil wealth, and economic desperation due to a crippling debt from the Iran-Iraq War.
At the time, Kuwait held approximately 20% of global oil reserves.
True or False: The U.S. intervention in the Gulf War was solely motivated by oil interests.
False
While oil was a primary motivator, additional geopolitical factors, territorial ambitions, and historical grievances also played significant roles.
What ecological disaster resulted from Iraq’s actions during the Gulf War?
Iraq weaponized oil by dumping 240 million gallons into the Persian Gulf and setting 700 Kuwaiti oil wells ablaze.
This caused one of the worst ecological disasters in history.
What are the three key factors that modern conflicts emerge from?
- Greed (control of wealth)
- Grievance (historical injustice)
- Governance (state failure)
These factors intersect to shape conflicts beyond just resource scarcity.
How did the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 influence the Gulf War?
It left the United States unchallenged in enforcing a ‘New World Order,’ incentivizing military intervention in the Gulf.
This allowed the U.S. to act decisively in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
What is resource nationalism?
The practice of states tightly controlling their energy assets, exemplified by countries like Russia and Venezuela.
Resource nationalism can lead to tensions in international relations, especially regarding energy security.
What ongoing challenge exacerbates resource competition, making future conflicts likely?
Climate change
Climate change affects the availability of water and arable land, increasing the potential for resource-driven conflicts.
What is the legacy of the Gulf War in contemporary geopolitics?
It shapes current resource management strategies and highlights the need for integrated governance to prevent future resource-driven wars.
The Gulf War serves as a critical reminder of the complexities behind resource conflicts.
What are tragedy of commons
The tragedy of the commons is an economic theory that describes how individuals overuse a shared resource to their own benefit, even if it harms others
