PS138-08 CONFLICT AND NATURAL RESOURCES Nancy.Gleason@Tufts.Edu Office: Packard Hall Room 306, Third Floor Office Hours: Thursdays 3:15-4:15 or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION This course examines the role of natural resource endowments and scarcity in national and international conflict. The course begins with a study of the various causes of conflict at the state, society and individual levels such as structural violence, politics, religion and humiliation. We then explore how constraints on natural resources such as water and fertile soil increase the likelihood of environmentally related violence as compared to other causes of conflict. Students will explore not only conflict theory but also technical aspects of global environmental change. Finally, the class will explore potential conflict resolution approaches as they relate to resource scarcity and environmental change. REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING Class Participation: 10% (Attendance, Contribution to Discussion) Student Led Topic Presentation: 20% In-class quizes: (20% each) = 40% Final Test: 30% 1. Tuesday September 7 th, 2010. Introduction to Natural Resources & Conflict a. Diehl and Gleditsch, Chapter 1 Controversies and Questions (pp.1-13) (Text) 2. Thursday September 9 th, 2010. What is Conflict Phases and Definitions a. Diehl and Gleditsch, Chapter 2 The Case of South Africa by Percival and Homer-Dixon, pp.13-35 (Text) b. Pruitt and Kim, Toward a Theory of Conflict Chapter 1 in Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate and Settlement, Third Edition (2004) (Blackboard) c. Michael Lund, Chapter 2: Concept, Tools, and Targets, in Preventing Violent Conflicts: A Strategy for Preventive Diplomacy (Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 1995) pp. 31-49 (Ginn Library Stacks: JX4473.L86 1996) CAUSES OF CONFLICT & THE LEVELS OF ANALYSIS: 3. Tuesday September 14 th, 2010 a. Jack Levy, Levels of Analysis -ALL Systemic Level Variables Power, Structural Violence, Globalization b. Galtung, Johan. (1969) Violence, Peace, and Peace Research. Journal of Peace Research. Vol. 6, No. 3. 167-191. (Blackboard) Sate/Society Level Variables Political Causes (Choose one reading from below) c. Mansfield, Edward D. and Jack Snyder. (2001) Democratic Transitions and War: From Napoleon to the Millennium s End. In Crocker, C.A., et al., (eds.) Turbulent Peace. Washington, DC: US Institute of Peace Press. 113-126. 1
d. Ayoob, M. (2001). State making, state breaking and state failure. In Crocker, C.A. et al. (eds.). Turbulent Peace. Washington, D.C.: US Institute of Peace Press. 127-142. e. Gurr, Ted R. (2001) Ethnopolitical Conflict in the New Century. In Crocker, C.A., et al., (eds.) Turbulent Peace. Washington, DC: US Institute of Peace Press. 163-188. 4. Thursday September 16 th, 2010. Intra/ Inter Group Relationships & Individual Level Variables a. Duckitt, John ((2003) Prejudice and Intergroup Hostility. In Sears, David O. et al., (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 559-600 Ginn Reserve JA74.5.O94 2003 5. Tuesday September 21 st, 2010. Introduction to Natural Resources and Conflict (Last Day to Add Classes) a. Environmental Conflict, Chapter 3, Causal Pathways to Conflict pp.36-57 NOTE: You are not responsible for the Research Design Section in the chapter you can skip this part unless it interests you. (Text) b. Baviskar, Chapter 1, Introduction pp.1-13 (Text) c. From Conflict to Peacebuilding: http://unep.org/pdf/pcdmb_policy_01.pdf d. UN Study Series on Peace and Conflict, READ ONLY pp.1-16 http://www.usip.org/files/file/08sg.pdf 6. Thursday September 23 rd, 2010. Guest Lecture, Nichola Minot on Ache, Earthquakes and How Conflict Can Play a Role a. Tsunami and Aceh Conflict Resolution: http://www1.american.edu/ted/ice/tsunami-aceh.htm 7. Tuesday September 28 th, 2010. The Stakeholders in Natural Resources a. Preventing Deadly Conflict, Chapter 5: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/rept97/finfr.htm 8. Thursday September 30 th, 2010. In class quiz #1 causes and players of conflict a. Review of Presentation and Final Paper Processes b. Review of Research Effort Options ENVIRONMENTAL SCARCITY AND VIOLENT CONFLICT 9. Tuesday October 5 th, 2010. Environmental Scarcity a. Baviskar, Water and Waste: Nature, Productivity, and Colonialism in the Indus Basin by David Gilmartin pp.13-37 (Text) b. Baviskar Chapter 3 Context and Constructions of Scarcity by Simon Dalby pp.38-58 (Text) 10. Demographic Pressures Too Many People a. Environmental Conflict, Chapter 4, by Tir and Diehl Demographic Pressure and Interstate Conflict pp.58-83 (Text) 2
b. Environmental Conflict Chapter 5, by Jack Goldstone, Demography, Environment, and Security pp.84-108 (Text) 11. Thursday October 7 th, 2010. Population Malthusians vs. Economic Optimists a. Environmental Conflict, Bjørn Lomborg, Resource Constraints or Abundance? Chapter 7 in Diehl and Gleditsch, eds., pp.125-152. (Text) b. Homer-Dixon, Chapter 3 in The Upside of Down We are Like Running Water (Blackboard) 12. Tuesday October 12 th, 2010. Economics of Natural Resources and Conflict a. Baviskar, Chapter 6, Economies of Violence: More Oil, More Blood by Michael Watts pp.106-136 (Text) b. Baviskar, Chapter 7, Natural Resources and Capitalist Frontiers by Anna Tsing, pp.137-156 (Text) c. Michael Ross, The Natural Resource Curse: How Wealth Can Make You Poor Chapter 2 in Natural Resources and Violent Conflict. Bonnin and Collier Editors (The World Bank, 2003) (This book can be found on google) OPTIONAL READING: Paul Collier, Doing Well out of War: An Economic Perspective, Chapter 5 in Mats Berdal and David M. Malone, eds., Greed and Grievance: Economic Agendas in Civil Wars (Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. 2000) 91-111. 13. Thursday October 14 th, 2010. (Last Day to Drop Classes). Civil Conflict, Natural Resources: The Case of Rwanda a. Valerie Percival and Thomas Homer-Dixon, The Case of Rwanda. http://www.library.utoronto.ca/pcs/eps/rwanda/rwanda1.htm b. Leif Ohlsson, How environmental scarcity paved the way for genocide in Rwanda, Chapter 4 in Environmental Scarcity and Conflict: A Study of Malthusian Concerns, Ph.D. Thesis, (Göteborg, Sweden: Department of Peace and Development Research, Göteborg University, 1999), 76-85 http://www.scribd.com/doc/6584515/genocide-in-rwanda c. James K Gasana, Natural Resource Scarcity and Violence in Rwanda, in Richard Matthew, Mark Halle and Jason Switzer, eds., Conserving the Peace: Resources, Livelihoods and Scarcity (Winnipeg, Manitoba) http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2002/envsec_conserving_4.pdf 14. Tuesday October 19 th, 2010. Water and Conflict a. Environmental Conflict, Chapter 6 Water and Conflict: Rhetoric and Reality by Steve C. Lonergan pp.109-124 (Text) 15. Thursday October 21 st, 2010. Guest Lecture: Water and Conflict Anna Schultz a. Pacific Institute s Water Conflict Chronology: http://www.worldwater.org/chronology.html Environment and Security Water Conflict Chronology (PDF) compiled by Peter Gleick, updated October 2006. b. Belt, Parting the Waters, Jordon River (pp.155-171) (Blackboard) 3
16. Tuesday October 26 th, 2010. Movie: Blue Gold: World Water Wars 17. Thursday October 28 th, 2010. Guest Lecture, Elizabeth McClintock: Burundi s Conflict and Recovery a. Readings to be announced 18. Tuesday November 2nd, 2010. Land Use Rights and Conflict a. The Case of Land Use and Sudan s Conflict: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1413&fuseaction=topics.event_ summary&event_id=272851 b. Philip Hirsch, Khamla Phanvilay, and Kaneungnit Tubtim, Nam Ngum, Lao PDR: Community-based natural resource management and conflicts over watershed resources http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-27967-201-1-do_topic.html 19. Thursday November 4th, 2010. Forests and Conflict, The Case of Suriname a. Suriname National Forest Policy Report (Blackboard) 20. Tuesday November 9 th (Thursday Schedule) In-Class Quiz#2, Case Study Assessment a. Time will be provided to meet with your presentation group at the end of class Thursday November 11th, 2010 VERTERANS DAY, NO CLASSES THE REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT 21. Tuesday November16 th, 2010. Reducing Environmental Conflict PART I. a. Environmental Conflict, Chapter 8, Democracy and the Environment, by Manus Midlarksy, pp. 155-178 (Text) b. Environmental Conflict, Chapter 9, The Limits and Promise of Environmental Conflict Prevention, Rodger Payne, pp.179-198 (Text) 22. Thursday November 18 th, 2010. Reducing Environmental Conflict PART II. a. Pruitt and Kim The Intervention of Third Parties Chapter 11 in Social Conflict, pp.226-256 (Blackboard) 23. Tuesday November 23 rd, 2010. Movie on Conflict and Natural Resources Summary papers on group presentation progress are due in class in hard copy. 5 page maximum. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25 TH, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY NO CLASSES 24. Tuesday November 30 th, 2010. Student Led Topic Presentations: OIL & NATURAL GAS 25. Thursday December 2 nd, 2010. Student Led Topic Presentation: DIAMONDS 26. Tuesday December 7 th, 2010. Student Led Topic Presentation: MINERALS 27. Thursday December 9 th, 2010. Final in-class Test Cumulative 4
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS Class Participation: 10% (Attendance, Contribution to Discussion) Class participation is based on several components. First and foremost your attendance is very important. Second, your contribution to class discussion and your in-class assessment of the reading assignments is factored. Finally, your attention to classmates and the lectures are factored into this grade. Student Led Topic Presentation: 20% Students will choose between three possible presentation topics and divide into three groups. The topic area choices are OIL, DIAMONDS and MINERALS. The groups will prepare an innovative presentation and class exercise on their subject area. Quizzes: (20% each): 40% Students should be able to summarize key concepts and identify ideas put forward by various authors from the readings. These quizzes assess comprehension of the readings and major concepts from the course. Short answer format. Final Test: 30% The final assessment will be cumulative. Students will be responsible for being familiar with the readings from the course, topics covered by guest lectures and in movies viewed in class. Students will be expect to synthesize key concepts from the course essay format. 5