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Transparency as a Cure for the 'Resource Curse': global consensus and tasks pending for Spain

14/05/2007 By Nils-Sjard Schulz

The contradictory relationship between natural resource wealth and poverty in human development and governance, especially pronounced among the hydrocarbon-rich African countries, represents a complex challenge for industrialised nations highly dependent on these energy supplies.

In response to the ‘resource curse’ suffered by so many countries of the South, with its accompanying corruption and violence, a regime for transparency in the payments made by extractive multinationals has been created.

Representing an agreement between parties who in other circumstances would not readily collaborate, these new rules offer great potential for global governance.

While Spain has a notable interest in energy security, it has not yet shown a great deal of commitment to this new initiative, in spite of the significant potential it offers for achieving greater coherence in Spain’s Development Aid policy.


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Keywords

Coherence Energy Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Latin America & Caribbean North Africa Political economy Spanish Aid Sub-Saharan Africa

Bio author: Nils-Sjard Schulz

Global governance of aid. Aid policy and effectiveness. Donor harmonisation. International division of labour. South-South cooperation.