Problematising the Resource Curse Thesis

Obeng-Odoom, F

Problematising the Resource Curse Thesis

Obeng-Odoom, F

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Publisher:: Seoul National University, Institute of Social Development and Policy Research
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Development and Society, 2012, 41 (1), pp. 1 - 30
Issue Date:: 2012-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Obeng-Odoom, F https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3997-7751	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Development and Society, 2012, 41 (1), pp. 1 - 30	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1598-8074	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18716
dc.description.abstract	The natural resource curse thesis is that the blessing/windfall of 'nature's gifts' tends to be a curse. The mention of 'oil' , especially in developing countries, evokes two types of feelings in the form of excitement and fear, further resulting in a discourse about turning a 'resource curse' into a 'resource blessing'. This paper questions this binary representation of the political economy of oil. Using data triangulation, I will show that curses and blessings co-exist, intermingle, and impact diversely on different social groups. Further, there are many forms of impact in between the two which are neither curses nor blessings. This evidence suggests there is room for practical steps to remedy specific weaknesses in existing public policy beyond euphoric reactions and propositions that strike a determinist relationship between resource boom and curse.	en_US
dc.publisher	Seoul National University, Institute of Social Development and Policy Research	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Development and Society	en_US
dc.title	Problematising the Resource Curse Thesis	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	41	en_US
utslib.for	1205 Urban and Regional Planning	en_US
utslib.for	1603 Demography	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCDP - Contemporary Design Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.volume	41	en_US

Abstract:

The natural resource curse thesis is that the blessing/windfall of 'nature's gifts' tends to be a curse. The mention of 'oil' , especially in developing countries, evokes two types of feelings in the form of excitement and fear, further resulting in a discourse about turning a 'resource curse' into a 'resource blessing'. This paper questions this binary representation of the political economy of oil. Using data triangulation, I will show that curses and blessings co-exist, intermingle, and impact diversely on different social groups. Further, there are many forms of impact in between the two which are neither curses nor blessings. This evidence suggests there is room for practical steps to remedy specific weaknesses in existing public policy beyond euphoric reactions and propositions that strike a determinist relationship between resource boom and curse.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18716