2018年-查塔姆研究所_Manufacturing_Instability_Extractive_Industries_the_State_and_the_Resource_Curse_in_West_Africa_9页_245kb

Africa Programme Meeting Summary: Manufacturing Instability?

Core Content

This meeting summary discusses the relationship between extractive industries and socio-economic instability in West Africa, focusing on how resource dependence exacerbates poverty, corruption, and violence. The discussion is based on the work of Tom Burgis, a Financial Times reporter with extensive experience covering African resource sectors.

Main Viewpoints

• Causal Link Between Extractive Industries and Instability: Tom Burgis argues that extractive industries (minerals, oil, gas) are a major cause of poverty and violence in West Africa. This issue has gained public attention in the West, such as with the execution of Ken Saro-Wira in Nigeria and the campaign against blood diamonds.

• Resource Curse and Economic Effects:

  • Resource-dependent economies suffer from Dutch Disease, where the value of the currency rises, leading to inflation and making domestic industries less competitive.
  • West African countries like Guinea and Equatorial Guinea are among the least diversified economies in Africa, with a heavy reliance on resource rents for government revenue.
  • Nigeria exemplifies this with its oil dependence, leading to job losses in the textile industry, smuggling, and underdeveloped infrastructure. The power sector in Nigeria is particularly emblematic of inefficiency and mismanagement.

• Social Contract and Political Instability:

  • Governments in resource-dependent states are not reliant on taxation, which reduces their incentive to serve the public.
  • This dynamic leads to authoritarianism and coup-proneness, as seen in Niger and Guinea.
  • In Guinea, the 2008 coup was followed by a significant resource deal with China, which helped consolidate the regime's power.

• Transparency and Accountability:

  • The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is highlighted as a tool for promoting transparency and accountability.
  • In Nigeria, the EITI has led to more public scrutiny and greater reporting by companies, shifting the blame from corporations to governments.
  • Ghana is noted as a positive example, with strong institutions and a proactive approach to transparency. It is seen as a potential model for managing resource wealth responsibly.

• Role of International Actors:

  • Western companies and governments have been criticized for their role in corruption and the lack of accountability.
  • However, there is also a call for Western consumers to be more aware and to push for transparency, as they benefit indirectly from resource extraction through investments and pension funds.

Key Information

• Natural Resources in West Africa:

  • The region accounts for 12% of global oil and gas supplies.
  • Nigeria provides a third of America's oil, and Angola provides a third of China's oil.
  • Resources like cobalt are geographically concentrated, with most global supplies coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Examples of Resource Curse:

  • Nigeria: Oil dependence has led to economic imbalances, social unrest, and the rise of groups like Boko Haram.
  • Guinea: Authoritarianism and resource deals have been linked to political instability and human rights abuses.
  • Niger: French and Chinese resource interests have fueled political bargaining and military spending, leading to coups.

• Recommendations:

  • Focus on investigating and prosecuting corruption.
  • Crack down on illicit financial flows.
  • Shift the debate from government aid to the complicity of governments in the resource curse.
  • Promote transparency and accountability through initiatives like EITI.

Conclusion

While it is not accurate to claim that extractive industries are the sole cause of instability in West Africa, they play a significant role in exacerbating existing problems. The meeting highlights the need for stronger institutional frameworks, greater transparency, and public accountability to mitigate the negative impacts of resource wealth. Ghana is presented as a hopeful case, but the challenges remain substantial, particularly in countries with entrenched corruption and weak governance structures.