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The purpose of this essay is to examine whether different types of natural resources, in this case diamonds and oil, have an impact on the intensity of violence of rebel groups and, if so, to what extent. We have made a comparative analysis based on two theories; the resource curse and the rebels’ resource curse. We have examined RUF in Sierra Leone and MEND in Nigeria, and what connections they have to natural resources. We have in both cases found a connection between the type of natural resource and the methods and modus operandi of rebel groups. There is, for instance, a significant correlation between a high degree of lootability of a natural resource, in this case secondary diamonds, and the intensity of violence. However, more research is required in this field in order to draw any definite conclusions.

The Resource Curse is a theory which suggests that countries with an abundance of natural resources are prone to experience slower growth than resource scarce countries. Research has suggested that good governance can prevent this negative correlation from emerging. This case study examines which aspects of good governance that have been important in avoiding the Resource Curse in the case of Botswana, a country which by all logic should have been cursed by its resources but instead has gone from being one of the world’s poorest countries to becoming a middle-income country. Through creating 20 ideal-types of good governance based on the Worldwide Governance Indicator’s six doctrines of good governance plus the United Nation’s eight doctrines, and then scoring these in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, an understanding of which ideal-types scored highest and thus have helped Botswana to avoid the Resource Curse can be offered. After applying a historical overview analysis on the ideal-types that scored highest, the study finds that a strong civil society, a stabile national security, a legitimate and effective political process, public sector accountability and a lack of corruption in government and in public officials have been contributing factors in how Botswana is avoiding the Resource Curse.

The Resource Curse is a theory which suggests that countries with an abundance of natural resources are prone to experience slower growth than resource scarce countries. Research has suggested that good governance can prevent this negative correlation from emerging. This case study examines which aspects of good governance that have been important in avoiding the Resource Curse in the case of Botswana, a country which by all logic should have been cursed by its resources but instead has gone from being one of the world’s poorest countries to becoming a middle-income country. Through creating 20 ideal-types of good governance based on the Worldwide Governance Indicator’s six doctrines of good governance plus the United Nation’s eight doctrines, and then scoring these in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, an understanding of which ideal-types scored highest and thus have helped Botswana to avoid the Resource Curse can be offered. After applying a historical overview analysis on the ideal-types that scored highest, the study finds that a strong civil society, a stabile national security, a legitimate and effective political process, public sector accountability and a lack of corruption in government and in public officials have been contributing factors in how Botswana is avoiding the Resource Curse.

The purpose of this essay is to examine whether different types of natural resources, in this case diamonds and oil, have an impact on the intensity of violence of rebel groups and, if so, to what extent. We have made a comparative analysis based on two theories; the resource curse and the rebels’ resource curse. We have examined RUF in Sierra Leone and MEND in Nigeria, and what connections they have to natural resources. We have in both cases found a connection between the type of natural resource and the methods and modus operandi of rebel groups. There is, for instance, a significant correlation between a high degree of lootability of a natural resource, in this case secondary diamonds, and the intensity of violence. However, more research is required in this field in order to draw any definite conclusions.