Primary goods make the world go round, and one that makes cars go round is platinum, which is needed in exhaust catalysts. It is a valuable precious metal, and 80 percent of all of the world’s...Show morePrimary goods make the world go round, and one that makes cars go round is platinum, which is needed in exhaust catalysts. It is a valuable precious metal, and 80 percent of all of the world’s platinum can be found in South Africa. Despite this, very few South Africans actually benefit from its lucrative platinum mining sector. In fact, this sector appears to cause more problems for most of the people in mining regions, from bad working conditions to air and water pollution. In this thesis I will argue that the lucrativeness of the platinum mining sector and its many negative externalities are related through the Resource Curse. I hypothesize that the owners of platinum mines will use a specific form of lobbying – cronyism, also known as the ‘revolving door’ – to influence members of the National Assembly of South Africa to adopt policies favorable to the mining sector. My research will focus specifically on the case of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 (MPRDA).Show less
This research investigates whether or not the resource curse remains applicable when a state transitions from oil dependency to water dependency. In the context of Sudan, this thesis investigates...Show moreThis research investigates whether or not the resource curse remains applicable when a state transitions from oil dependency to water dependency. In the context of Sudan, this thesis investigates the strategic choices of the Salvation Regime during this transition from the '60s till the fall of the regime in '19. Results of this research indicate that (continued) strategic dependency on foreign powers and distributive efforts to capture the voting block domestically by the government strongly reflect on symptoms predicted by the resource curse model.Show less
This thesis investigates the potential barriers to stability natural resource extraction has created in Eastern DRC. This is accomplished using resource curse and rentier state theory in a...Show moreThis thesis investigates the potential barriers to stability natural resource extraction has created in Eastern DRC. This is accomplished using resource curse and rentier state theory in a complementary fashion. This thesis brings forward a nuanced view of how resource extraction can 1) create barriers impeding economic growth, 2) be used as a permissive tool for armed groups to maintain rebellion, and 3) alter state-society relations causing a lack of accountability and transparency from the government, thereby causing corruption and patrimonialism. The existence of a wider ‘curse’ throughout Sub-Saharan Africa is also analyzed and found that the DRC’s case diverges from the regional average. This thesis adds to the practical complementary application of resource curse and rentier state theory, putting forward a nuanced view of the role of natural resources, contrary to the ‘curse’ put forward by mainstream media and academics.Show less
This thesis analyses how Angola and The UAE can utilize renewable energy to limit their dependence toward their fossil fuel sectors. The thesis maps out these countries relative dependene by...Show moreThis thesis analyses how Angola and The UAE can utilize renewable energy to limit their dependence toward their fossil fuel sectors. The thesis maps out these countries relative dependene by utilizing two typologies developed by IRENA. Firstly, the high exposure and low resilience category. These countries are defined as dependent on fossil fuel incomes, which account for more than 20% of GDP, while also lacking the fiscal and political instruments to alter their dependence. Secondly, the high exposure and high resilience category, defined as countries dependent on fossil fuel incomes, which account for more than 20% of GDP, but with the necessary income and capacity to manage the transition. This thesis concludes that the transition towards renewable energy is both an important and necessary tool for countries to limit their dependence on fossil fuels and promote economic diversification. The two case studies outlined highlight an emphatic case of how countries with various financial, as well as institutional and political capacities, can utilize these technologies effectively.Show less
According to the rational choice theory acting cooperative in collective goods problems is not rational because the benefits of cooperating do not outweigh the costs. The fact that some countries...Show moreAccording to the rational choice theory acting cooperative in collective goods problems is not rational because the benefits of cooperating do not outweigh the costs. The fact that some countries do cooperate in international collective goods problems means that something must be missing from traditional rational choice models. IR theorists have tried to explain how it is possible that some countries do cooperate in collective goods problems while others do not.This research examines oil wealth as an explanation for non cooperative behavior in collective goods problems. This explanation is derived from the realist school of thought. The results of this research show that in two different cases oil wealth is negatively related to cooperative behavior in collective goods problems. Also other explanations from realist, liberalist and constructivist theories have been tested and compared to understand the importance of any of these explanations when explaining state behavior in collective goods problems.Show less
Growing demand or declining availability of water makes distribution decisions based on water scarcity an increasingly acute problem across the globe. In my research, I focused on the question...Show moreGrowing demand or declining availability of water makes distribution decisions based on water scarcity an increasingly acute problem across the globe. In my research, I focused on the question whether water scarcity can lead to conflict. To investigate how water and conflict are connected I used two theories which are the most relevant when dealing with the connection between water and conflict, Water Wars theory and Resource Curse theory. I studied the Darfur conflict case and the Chinese environmental conflict case to find out if water scarcity can lead to conflict.Show less
