Abstract 3
Paper Proposal
for
Sixth Annual Middlesex Conference on Economics and Security, June 2002
Panel Title: Emerging Policies and Practices for Controlling Resource
Flows to Conflict
Overview:
Recently, there has been increased attention to the economic dimensions of civil wars.
Resources indirectly sustain conflict by providing the means to fight – i.e., by enabling
combatants to procure weapons and materiel, to pay soldiers, etc., but, as recent
scholarship on civil wars has emphasized, resources may also directly contribute to
conflict. In some cases, the control of commercial activities may be the principal
motivation for the initiation or perpetuation of conflict. This is not to say that wars are
solely about “greed.” War frequently becomes an alternative system of profit and power
favoring certain groups at the expense of others. Nonetheless, civil wars create economic
and political opportunities for combatants, war profiteers and other entrepreneurs. The
result of which has been to influence adversely the balance of incentives in favor of
peace.
The curtailment of resource flows to belligerents may hold particular promise as a means
of altering economic incentive structures and thus promoting conflict resolution. Many
of the resources sustaining wars depend upon access to the global economy, including
international markets and foreign supporters. Importantly, while globalization has
presented both combatants and the networks upon which they depend with new economic
opportunities, it also renders them more vulnerable to international pressure, if such can
be mobilized. Many of the resources sustaining wars depend upon access to the global
economy, including international markets and foreign supporters. From this perspective,
the objective of the ‘international community’ should be to suppress profit-seeking
actions committed under cover of civil wars.
This paper provides a general overview of the role of diverse resource flows in
sustaining, if not fueling, civil wars. It then identifies and briefly analyzes existing
national and multilateral policies, practices and legal instruments available to combat and
reduce the global flow of these resources. In particular, it seeks to draw attention to legal
and regulatory frameworks which may not specifically address the role of these resource
flows in armed conflict, but which may adapted to do so. For example, regulatory
regimes to combat money laundering, organized crime, and narcotics. Beyond the
itemization of discrete policy and regulatory initiatives, the paper provides a concise
description of their background, purpose, scope, and mechanism, as well as a preliminary
evaluation of their effectiveness and consequences, both intended and unintended.
Bio
Jake Sherman is a Program Officer at the International Peace Academy for the
“Economic Agendas in Civil Wars” (EACW) project. The EACW project addresses the
critical issue of the political economy of civil wars, including the role of globalization in
creating new opportunities for armed factions to finance conflict, and seeks possible
policy responses for shifting the economic strategies of combatants from war towards
peace. In addition to his programmatic responsibilities, his current research focuses on
the political economy of war and peace-making in Burma. Mr. Sherman holds a Master
of International Affairs degree from the Columbia University School of International and
Public Affairs (SIPA). He is an Associate Editor of “Macro”, a new journal on
economics, markets & policy-making of international relations.
Contact Information
Jake Sherman
Program Officer
Economic Agendas in Civil Wars
International Peace Academy
777 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
tel: 212 687-4629
fax: 212 983-8246
Email: sherman@ipacademy.org