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Economic incentives, natural resources and conflict in Africa

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  • J Herbst

Abstract

This paper reviews how rebel leaders motivate followers to fight in wars in Sub-Saharan Africa. Almost all rebel leaders do use economic incentives, but they also avail themselves of other strategies to motivate their soldiers, including political indoctrination, ethnic mobilisation and coercion. The type of incentive employed will depend primarily on the nature of the state confronted. In particular, those movements that face competent national militaries will have to evolve into viable armies while rebels fighting states that are weak and corrupt can afford to lead movements that employ coercion and pursue economic agendas.

Suggested Citation

  • J Herbst, 2000. "Economic incentives, natural resources and conflict in Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 9(3), pages 270-294.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:9:y:2000:i:3:p:270-294.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jae/9.3.270
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    Cited by:

    1. Abbasi ,Mansoureh & Lebrand,Mathilde Sylvie Maria & Mongoue,Arcady Bluette & Pongou,Roland & Zhang,Fan, 2022. "Roads, Electricity, and Jobs: Evidence of Infrastructure Complementarity in Sub-Saharan Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9976, The World Bank.
    2. Tendai Zawaira & Matthew W. Clance & Carolyn Chisadza, 2020. "Social Institutions and Gender-Biased Outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 2020101, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    3. Omang O. Messono & Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Historical Prevalence of Infectious Diseases and Entrepreneurship: the Role of Institutions in 125 Countries," Research Africa Network Working Papers 21/096, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    4. Azam, Jean-Paul & Mesnard, Alice, 2003. "Civil War and the Social Contract," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 115(3-4), pages 455-475, June.
    5. Olsson, Ola, 2007. "Conflict diamonds," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 267-286, March.
    6. Zhang, Yu & Xu, Zhicheng Phil & Kibriya, Shahriar, 2021. "The long-term effects of the slave trade on political violence in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 776-800.
    7. Matthew Costello, 2018. "Oil and Gas Rents and Civilian Violence in the Middle East and North Africa, 1990–2004: A Resource Curse, or Rentier Peace?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-20, March.
    8. Indra De Soysa & Eric Neumayer, 2007. "Resource Wealth and the Risk of Civil War Onset: Results from a New Dataset of Natural Resource Rents, 1970—1999," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 24(3), pages 201-218, July.
    9. Ilmari Käihkö, 2015. "“No die, no rest”? Coercive Discipline in Liberian Military Organisations," Africa Spectrum, Institute of African Affairs, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 50(2), pages 3-29.
    10. Ola Olsson, 2006. "Diamonds Are a Rebel's Best Friend," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 1133-1150, August.
    11. Hamang, Jonas, 2024. "Economic development and known natural resource endowment: Discovery rate differentials of oil," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    12. Martin Ottmann, 2017. "Rebel constituencies and rebel violence against civilians in civil conflicts," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 34(1), pages 27-51, January.
    13. Tendai Zawaira & Matthew Clance & Carolyn Chisadza, 2023. "Social institutions, gender attitudes and female labour force participation in sub‐Saharan Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 91(2), pages 186-213, June.
    14. Nigus, Halefom Yigzaw & Abay, Kibrom A., 2024. "Cooperation among community leaders: The role of women’s leadership and exposure to conflict," IFPRI discussion papers 2273, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Olukayode E. Maku & Tolulope O. Williams & Judith Gbagidi & Emmanuel O. Ajike, 2023. "Natural Resource Endowments and Growth Dynamics in Africa: Evidence from Panel Cointegrating Regression," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 23/015, African Governance and Development Institute..
    16. Mehler, Andreas, 2005. "Major Flaws in Conflict Prevention Policies towards Africa. The Conceptual Deficits of International Actors' Approaches and How to Overcome Them," GIGA Working Papers 4, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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