The Global Political Economy of Mining in Selected African States
Date
2009-03
Authors
Benkenstein, Alex
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
Many African countries present the observer with a paradox: though richly
endowed with mineral wealth, these countries are among the least-developed in
the world. Mineral resources have historically been an important source of
revenue for the state and one finds great diversity in the strategies that states
have employed to access this wealth. These strategies range from direct
participation in mining activity by means of state-owned companies to more
indirect methods such as taxes levied on mining activity, with approaches varying
not only among states, but also over time as historically certain strategies with
regard to state involvement in mining have come to predominate.
This study develops a typology of public/private sector configurations in the
mining sector. The typology consists of three models, a direct participation,
market-led and sustainability model. This typology serves as an analytical tool to
investigate the impact of mining codes on sustainable development.
The study concludes that in many cases the investment-oriented mining code
reform undertaken by African states in the 1980s and 1990s has had a negative
impact through the social and environmental costs associated with mining.
Increasing recognition of these costs has resulted in the emergence of a
sustainability model.
Description
Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies)()--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Keywords
Natural resources -- Africa -- Sustainable development, Theses -- Political science, Dissertations -- Political science