resourceconflict

Resource conflict refers to disputes and violence that arise over access, control, or management of natural resources such as water, land, energy, minerals, or biodiversity. It encompasses interstate, intra-state, and non-state violence, including protests that escalate into insurgency, competition among firms, or state responses. Resource conflicts can occur when resource scarcity coincides with weak institutions, corruption, or unequal distribution of benefits, leading to grievances and bargaining failure. They can also be triggered by sudden changes in availability, price shocks, or environmental degradation, which raise the stakes of resource access for communities and actors.

Common drivers include scarcity and uneven distribution, weak governance and rule of law, exclusive property regimes, infrastructure bottlenecks, climate change impacts, and geographic concentration of valuable resources. Resource conflicts may take the form of direct violence (militia attacks, cross-border raids) or indirect violence (economic disruption, displacement, or policy shifts). They often intersect with political, ethnic, or sectarian tensions, complicating resolution.

Mitigation focuses on governance reforms and conflict-sensitive resource management: transparent allocation and revenue sharing, clear property rights, regional cooperation, environmental management, conflict mediation, and stabilization of prices and supply chains. Early warning, inclusive institutions, secure land and water rights, and international norms against resource-driven violence are commonly advocated. Case studies include transboundary water disputes, mineral and oil-rich regions, and land tenure conflicts, illustrating the varied contexts in which resource competition can escalate into conflict.