Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution - Research Paper Example

?Critique: Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution Article Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution: Uncovering the Mechanisms (Macartan Humphreys) This research seeks to explore the diverse mechanisms which may link natural resources to conflict. It also seeks to develop and employ strategies to identify which mechanisms are likely to be in operation when. This problem statement provides a clear and exact issue for this research to answer. It is a timely and contemporary issue and in the context of Chad politics, it is highly relevant. This research topic was clearly stated and was appropriately incorporated into the text after its theoretical basis and background was laid out. This gave the student and the reader a clear understanding of why and how the issue came about and the points that it now seeks to study in the research process. This research problem is based on the theory that natural resources are linked to conflicts within countries. In effect, this theory sets forth that conflicts within and outside a country is often caused by competition for resources. In the case of Chad, such conflicts have been apparent with its coup d’etat which first deposed President Tombalyaye in 1975 (Humphrey, 2005). The instability seen in Chad after Tombalyaye was replaced was said to still be based on its issues on oil resources. Oil actually plays a major role in Chad politics as the control of oil resources is seen as a means to control the government (Humphrey, 2005). Issue is taken with this theory however in the sense that unless the mechanisms which link conflict with resources are clearly understood, it would be difficult to consider the advice of scholars in terms of limited use of policy community (Humphrey, 2005). Unless such theory is tested, the application of such mechanisms can only be limited. Based on the above theoretical argument, the statement problems is drawn – more concentrated within Chad’s politics and the mechanisms working within such system. This theoretical argument is very clear and appropriate for this paper. It specifies important aspects of the issue which render explanations and foundations for discussion. This theoretical argument help sets the tone for the rest of the discussion as it bears to mind the direction of the politics as it unfolds in the Chad. In order to tentatively answer the issue raised in this paper, the author raised different possible mechanisms which apply to the paper. In applying such possibilities to the study, the author considered the possibility that econometric work can only create correlations and that qualitative work is needed in order to identify the mechanisms which are underneath these correlations (Humphrey, 2005). It is difficult to evaluate whether the author meant this statement as a hypothesis or a tentative consideration for the problem/issue which was raised. Nevertheless, the statement presents a possible direction for the discussion to take in terms of answering the issues raised by the research study. The study also mentions six possible mechanisms which explain the relationship between war or conflict and resources. These mechanisms include: greedy rebels mechanism, greedy outsiders mechanism, grievance mechanism, feasibility mechanism, weak states mechanism, sparse networks mechanism (Humphrey, 2005). These mechanisms have been laid out as tentative considerations for this research. They help lay out possible directions for research in terms of impact on war/conflict as impacted by resources. For purposes of this study, the researcher chose the rebel greed mechanism as a means of explaining the issue topic of this discussion (Humphrey, 2005). This mechanism was chosen based on its applicability to the points raised during the analysis of Chad. In this mechanism, domestic groups are seen to engage in quasi-criminal activities in order to benefit from resources independent from the state. To some extent, these rebels seek power through these resources; and they want to further their ends by seeking access to the natural resources of the state (Humphrey, 2005). The independent variable for this study was the natural resources – more particularly for Chad – oil. The dependent variable is the conflicts/violence/wars caused by such resource and resource dependence (Humphrey, 2005). The method for analysis used by the author was to make use of econometric methods to distinguish between multiple mechanisms and to come up with different standard techniques which can be employed to do so. Random-variable distributions according to density functions based on set explanatory variables were used to provide generalizations appropriate for this study (Humphrey, 2005). This method of analysis was set forth in order to estimate the characteristics of the functions in ways which distinguish rival mechanisms with conflated effects. These systems were classified to the Type B and the Type A mechanisms where the rival mechanisms are then made to relate to each other (Humphrey, 2005). The method of analysis chosen by the author for this study is appropriate for this type of research, which is qualitative. Set statistical figures were used in order to produce results in this research. Coming up with a firm resolution and answer to the issues raised in this research is not as simple as computing statistical figures. The method of analysis chosen and adapted by this author is appropriate in the sense that it applies to the goals of this research, alongside the variables and the research questions raised. The methods of analysis also made adjustments to accommodate validity and reliability measures. This helped to ensure the applicability and reliability of research results. The author concluded that the onset of conflict is more “responsive to the impacts of past natural resource production than to the potential for future production, supporting a weak states mechanism than a rebel greed mechanism” (Humphrey, 2005). The author also concluded that the impact of natural resources cannot be attributed easily to the weak states mechanism; the link between primary commodities and conflicts is actually dictated by agricultural dependence, not by natural resources; and finally, natural resources are linked with shorter wars (Humphrey, 2005). In effect, this study concluded that there is no evidence that resources are linked with difficulties in negotiating ends of conflicts, in contrast with contentions that loot-seeking rebels extend wars (Humphrey, 2005). This conclusion was appropriately set forth based on the previous discussions and research trend. It followed a logical pattern of discussion from the introduction to the results and discussion. There were no unexpected conclusions drawn from the discussion with the conclusions logically flowing well from one portion of the research to another. It was important for the long, protracted, and complicated research process to lead to a logical conclusion because it gave direction and better comprehension for the research question. This research was primarily carried out in order to discover the relationship between two variables. The methods and processes it applied in the course of its research were appropriate for this study. These methods assisted the discovery process and helped in the establishment of the essential elements needed to answer the research questions raised. The data analysis was sufficiently rigorous for this research. It took sufficient time to develop and was rigorous enough for qualitative research. The researcher was adequately immersed in the analysis process, enough to ensure evaluation of data results and comparison data. The data analysis made adequate allowances for internal factors and potential endogeneity problems (Humphrey, 2005). In the process, it was able to establish the relationship (and lack thereof) between the independent and the dependent variables based on the application of the analytical tools. The review of cases carried out by the author was a tool which was essential to the research process. It gave the research depth and it made it more encompassing in terms of coverage and analysis. The findings of this research were clear. The data presented has been analyzed thoroughly and the findings clearly displayed in this research. The groupings of the data are clear in terms of mechanisms involved and relevance to the variables utilized in the research. The groupings of data are relevant and are present trends which inevitably serve to favor one grouping over another. All in all, this research is valuable because it brings about an important contribution to political analysis and science. It serves to embellish and to support the theories which have been laid out in policy priorities and the different changes which can be implemented in the management of these policies. This research topic presents a complex and dynamic analysis which would be appreciated well by an audience with background in political science. It would not be relatable to any other audience. More specific details on relevance need to be forwarded to a neutral audience. In this sense, it is not as relevant to the general and layperson readers. This research did not specify the ethical processes which it undertook in its research. This aspect interferes to a degree with the validity and reliability of the research. Ethical processes are important in adding to the validity of the research process. Such elements add to the scholarly nature of the research – with particular attention given to the gathering of the data and the treatment of research respondents. Despite these limitations, the researchers however ventured their research into a relevant territory of research and they were able to carry out their research as comprehensively and as logically as possible. Article 2: A Diamond Curse? Civil War and a Lootable Resource: Paivi Lujala, Nils Petter Gleditsch and Elisabeth Gilmore, Journal of Conflict Resolution (August 2005), vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 538-562 This research seeks to report on a new database on diamond deposits and production and analyze the relationship between diamonds and armed conflict incidence (Lujala, et.al., 2005). In this research question, the major elements or concepts have been defined in a way which helps secure common and adequate understanding. The background discussion leading up to the statement of the research question follow a chain of logic which is well-supported by theory. In this regard, this research question contains the necessary elements for adequate and comprehensive understanding. The research question does not specify a unit of analysis since it is largely a qualitative research; however it provides measures which help establish the relevance of one side over another side which it is being compared against. It does not specify a time frame, nor does it specify a geographic region. However, the research mentions Sierra Leone, an area relevant to this current discussion. The research topic is however very much relevant in the current political setting because various reports have indicated the use of natural resources in order to gain political and economic goals. This study or research question is therefore very much feasible as a research topic because it presents with viable goals and clear paths towards accomplishment. The theoretical argument in this research is that the abundance of natural resources has emerged as a significant factor in explaining civil conflict with rebels using natural resources to finance their insurgent activities (Lujala, et.al., 2005). Various hypotheses were discussed in this research. Such hypotheses include the following points: a country which produces diamonds faces a high risk of civil conflict onset; a country with secondary diamonds tends to have a higher incidence of conflict; a country with primary diamonds tends to have a lower incidence of conflict; the presence of secondary diamonds is positively associated with the onset and incidence of civil war in countries with a high level of ethnic fractionalization; the effect of secondary diamond mining on the risk of civil war is stronger in poor countries; the significance of diamonds for conflict has been greater after the end of the cold war (Lujala, et.al., 2005). The theoretical argument was appropriately conceptualized for this research in the sense that it provided logical support for the question or issue raised. It provided a clear opening for the entry and incorporation of the issue into the actual research process. It provided a clear picture of the nature of the discussion, as well as the elements of research needed in the completion of its conceptual framework. No research can hope to proceed logically without this framework. In this case, the theoretical constructs set forth in this research are appropriate for the current inquiry and for the establishment of other footholds upon which its elements can be built. Essentially, its theoretical constructs serve to offer a logical and feasible orientation to evaluate resource exploitation. The hypotheses presented in this research provide numerous possibilities for this research. These possibilities are all feasible and all help to provide possible directions for research and assessment. They help determine if the research has possible answers which are within adequate and comprehensive realms of understanding. They also provide two-sided hypotheses for the researcher to consider in his discussion. It includes more than one predictor variables which actually require the application of comprehensive statistical measures. Such measures would help ensure that the evaluation of the variables and the research elements would be adequate and accurate. The hypotheses presented in this research are based on educated and calculated guesses on the subject matter. They are also founded on relevant assessments as established by previous literature and theories on the subject matter. All the variables which Fearon and Laitin use in their model were included in this study (Lujala, et.al., 2005). The income per capital are derived from the PennWorld Tables and World Bank data which Fearon and Laitin have supplemented with per capita energy consumption to fill in gaps in missing data (Lujala, et.al., 2005). The independent data was controlled through the designation of values for countries with the first two years of experience. Ethnicity was set forth through the enthnolinguistic fractionalization (Lujala, et.al., 2005). The variables in this study are unclear and not adequately specified by the researchers. It is actually difficult to make adequate assessments of such variables based on the delivery of the text. Although the variables were mentioned in the text of this research, their details were not specified based on their relevance to the subject matter and the research issue raised. The references for variables were vague and leave the reader to carry out his own evaluation of the research question and its elements and relevant text. The analysis of this paper was carried out through several modes. First, the bivariate analysis evaluated the relationship between the diamond production and the onset of the civil war of 1945 to 1999 (Lujala, et.al., 2005). Next the bivariate relationship between diamonds and conflict with the Uppsala conflict from 1946 to 2002 was carried out. A multivariate analysis was then carried out in order to evaluate all the civil wars which were seen from 1945 to 1999 (Lujala, et.al., 2005). The authors then went on to evaluate whether the diamonds contributed differently under special conditions. The authors also studied whether the impact of diamonds increased after the end of the cold war (Lujala, et.al., 2005). These methods of analysis were appropriately chosen for this research. Since it is a study which includes different variables and hypothesis, the process of analysis needed to be separate and yet coordinated with each other. The data analysis was able to establish a clearer understanding of the subject matter. It helped to resolve the issues raised by this research. The data analysis is guided by the research question and the study objectives. These methods are appropriate for the research question and for the hypothesis established. They bring logic and clarity to the research process. They enhance the reader’s understanding of the issue/problem being raised and help set-up clear conclusions based on research questions. This study concludes that there is a strong bivariate relationship between diamonds and the onset of civil war. In other words, the production of secondary diamonds can increase the risk of onset of ethnic war, and other types of war (Lujala, et.al., 2005). The authors also set forth that secondary diamonds are positively correlated to the incidence of civil war, especially those areas with ethnic divides. Primary diamonds make ethnic war onset and incidence less likely. The authors also established that the impact of diamonds has been stronger in the post cold-war era (Lujala, et.al., 2005). In effect, this study was able to provide a strong and clear evaluation of the issue and problems raised. The conclusion drawn by this research is based on the results. They are properly based on the elements as established by the research statistics used, as well as the processes of research applied. There are no illogical fallacies drawn from this research conclusion as all conclusive statements are based on logical and clearly supported facts and figures as presented by the data analysis. In general, this research has been logically, clearly, and adequately presented. The research process which it adopted has been appropriate and has served to provide comprehensive and systematic answers to the issues raised. The discussions carried out indicated clear relationships with results as well as emphasis and related literature which support its findings. It also presented a balanced research and assessment process, answering whether or not results were expected. The translation of the findings from statistics to the language of the researcher and the reader was an easy and clear transition. The researchers were able to focus on the essential elements of the research and evaluate the impact of diamonds based on primary, secondary impacts on conflicts and wars. All in all, the researchers were able to establish clear links between the research theories and the research questions. They were able to accomplish such feat with the observation of valid and reliable research measures. The application of ethical research processes were however not considered and explained by the authors. Ethical research processes in the data gathering and processing are essential elements of research. The authors were vague on whether or not they applied such ethical measures for this research study. To some extent, this minimizes the reliability of this research. The references used in this study were appropriate and peer-reviewed academic materials. In effect, they are also reliable materials for this research and they help support the establishment of a balanced view on the subject matter. 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