Oil &amp; war in Angola

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 28, Issue 90

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Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

Oil & war in Angola

research-article

Author(s): Jedrzej George Frynas ^a , Geoffrey Wood ^b

Publication date (Print): December 2001

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

This article investigates the impact of oil on the war in Angola. It demonstrates that mineral wealth has not only financed Angola's war but has also intimately shaped the contours of the conflict. MPLA's access to oil revenues and UNITA's to diamonds can help to explain the duration and character of the conflict, and, to some extent, even the timing of military operations. The logic of the ‘resource curse’ has had a major impact on the make‐up of Angola's political economy and has been decisive in the erosion of state legitimacy, which in turn has had important consequences for the prospects for peace. The activities of foreign oil companies have affected the shape of the conflict; the intense competition for oil concessions has led to a number of different companies seeking the favour of the Angolan state elite through dubious charitable donations, weapons deals, and other forms of assistance. On a theoretical level, the article questions liberal assumptions about the positive effects of trade on peace.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): December 2001

Volume: 28

Issue: 90

Pages: 587-606

Affiliations

^a Senior Lecturer in International Business , Coventry University Business School , UK E-mail: j.frynas@ 123456coventry.ac.uk

^b Professor of Comparative Human Resource Management , Middlesex University Business School , UK E-mail: g.wood@ 123456mdx.ac.uk

Article

Publisher ID: 8704568 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 28, No. 90, December 2001, pp. 587-606

DOI: 10.1080/03056240108704568

SO-VID: 30265135-d958-46d1-b275-b50be35bd87a

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 39, Pages: 20

References

Angell Norman. . 1933. . The Great Illusion 1933 . , London : : Heinemann. .
Barbieri Katherine and Schneider Gerald. . 1999. . ‘Globalization and Peace: Assessing New Directions in the Study of Trade and Conflict’. . Journal of Peace Research . , Vol. 36((4)): 387––404. .
Bayart Jean‐François. . 2000. . ‘Africa in the World: A History of Extraversion’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 99:: 217––267. .
Brittain Victoria. . 1998. . Death of Dignity ‐Angola's Civil War . , London : : Pluto Press. .
Bower Tom. . 1994. . Tiny Rowland ‐ A Rebel Tycoon . , London : : Mandarin. .
Cardoso C. . September. 1999 . Interview: Metical Offices . September. , Maputo :
Chan Steve. . 1997. . ‘In Search of the Democratic Peace: Problems and Promise’. . Mershon International Studies Review . , Vol. 41((1)): 59––91. .
Collier P and Hoeffler A E. . 1998. . ‘On the Economic Causes of Civil War’. . Oxford Economic Papers . , Vol. 50:: 563––573. .
2000. . ‘Greed and Grievance in Civil War’ . , (Policy Research Working Paper 2355). Washington : : World Bank. .
Davies Victor A B. . 2000. . ‘Sierra Leone: Ironic Tragedy'’. . Journal of African Economies . , Vol. 9((3)): 349––369. .
De Soysa Indra. . 2000. . “‘The Resource Curse: Are Civil Wars Driven by Rapacity or Paucity’. ”. In Greed & Grievance ‐ Economic Agendas in Civil Wars . , Edited by: Berdal Mats and Malone David M.. Boulder , CO : : Lynne Rienner. .
Deutsch Karl W. . 1957. . Political Community and the North Atlantic Area . , Princeton , NJ : : Princeton University Press. .
Doyle Michael W. . 1986. . ‘Liberalism and World Polities’. . American Political Science Review . , Vol. 80((4)): 1151––1169. .
Elbadawi Ibrahim and Sambanis Nicholas. . 2000. . ‘Why Are There So Many Civil Wars in Africa? Understanding and Preventing Violent Conflict’. . Journal of African Economies . , Vol. 9((3)): 244––269. .
Frynas Jedrzej George. . 1998. . ‘Political Instability and Business: Focus on Shell in Nigeria’. . Third World Quarterly . , Vol. 19((3)): 457––478. .
Frynas Jedrzej George and Mellahi Kamel. . ‘Political Risks as Firm‐Specific (Dis) Advantages: Evidence on Foreign Firms in Nigeria’. In: . Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Academy of International Business (AIB), UK Chapter; . April 6–7– ; . Manchester Metropolitan University. .
Global Witness. . 1999. . ‘A CRUDE AWAKENING ‐The Role of the Oil and Banking Industries in Angola's Civil War and the Plunder of State Assets’ .
Government of Angola. . 1994. . ‘Lusaka Protocol: Lusaka, Zambia, 15 November 1994’ . Luanda :
Hanlon J. . 1991. . Mozambique: Who Calls the Shots? . , Oxford : : James Currey. .
Hodges Tony. . 2001. . Angola ‐ From Afro‐Stalinism to Petro‐Diamond Capitalism . , Lysaker : : Fridtjof Nansen Institute & International African Institute. .
Hyden Goran. . 1983. . No Shortcuts to Progress . , Nairobi : : Heinemann. .
IMF (International Monetary Fund). . 1999. . ‘Staff Country Report No. 99/25’ . , Washington : : IMF. .
Kaldor Mary. . 1999. . New and Old Wars ‐Organized Violence in a Global Era . , Cambridge : : Polity Press. .
Keen David. . 1998. . ‘The Economic Functions of Violence in Civil Wars’ . , (Adelphi Paper). Oxford : : Oxford University Press. .
Le Billon Philippe. . 2001. . ‘Angola's Political Economy of War: The Role of Oil and Diamonds, 1975–2000’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 100:: 55––80. .
Messiant Christine. . 2001. . ‘The Eduardo Dos Santos Foundation: Or, how Angola's Regime is Taking Over Civil Society’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 100:: 287––309. .
Oneal John R and Russett Bruce M. . 1999. . ‘Assessing the Liberal Peace with Alternative Specifications: Trade Still Reduces Conflict’. . Journal of Peace Research . , Vol. 36((4)): 423––442. .
Osiander Andreas. . 1998. . ‘Rereading Early Twentieth‐Century IR Theory: Idealism Revisited’. . International Studies Quarterly . , Vol. 42((3)): 409––432. .
Pegg Scott. . 1998. . International Society and the De Facto State . , Aldershot , , UK: : Ashgate. .
Polachek Solomon W. . 1980. . ‘Conflict and Trade’. . Journal of Conflict Resolution . , Vol. 24((1)): 57––78. .
Reno William. . 1998. . Warlord Politics and African States . , Boulder , Colorado : : Lynne Rienner. .
Ross Michael L. . 1999. . ‘The Political Economy of the Resource Curse’. . World Politics . , Vol. 51((2)): 297––322. .
Selfridge H Gordon. . 1918. . The Romance of Commerce . , London : : Bodley Head. .
Snidal Duncan. . 1991. . ‘International Cooperation Among Relative Gains Maximizers’. . International Studies Quarterly . , Vol. 35((4)): 387––402. .
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). . 1999. . Angola: Economic Developments in 1998 . Luanda :
2000. . Human Development Report . , New York : : UNDP. .
United Nations. . 1979. . “‘Multinational Corporations in World Development’. ”. In Transnational Corporations and World Order . , Edited by: Modelski George. . San Francisco : : W. H. Freeman. .
Viner Jacob. . 1937. . Studies in the Theory of International Trade . , New York : : Harper and Brothers. .
Vines Alex. . 1996. . Angola Between War and Peace: Arms Trade And Human Rights Abuses Since The Lusaka Protocol . , New York : : Human Rights Watch. .

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Angell Norman. . 1933. . The Great Illusion 1933 . , London : : Heinemann. .

[2] Barbieri Katherine and Schneider Gerald. . 1999. . ‘Globalization and Peace: Assessing New Directions in the Study of Trade and Conflict’. . Journal of Peace Research . , Vol. 36((4)): 387––404. .

[3] Bayart Jean‐François. . 2000. . ‘Africa in the World: A History of Extraversion’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 99:: 217––267. .

[4] Brittain Victoria. . 1998. . Death of Dignity ‐Angola's Civil War . , London : : Pluto Press. .

[5] Bower Tom. . 1994. . Tiny Rowland ‐ A Rebel Tycoon . , London : : Mandarin. .

[6] Cardoso C. . September. 1999 . Interview: Metical Offices . September. , Maputo :

[7] Chan Steve. . 1997. . ‘In Search of the Democratic Peace: Problems and Promise’. . Mershon International Studies Review . , Vol. 41((1)): 59––91. .

[8] Collier P and Hoeffler A E. . 1998. . ‘On the Economic Causes of Civil War’. . Oxford Economic Papers . , Vol. 50:: 563––573. .

[9] 2000. . ‘Greed and Grievance in Civil War’ . , (Policy Research Working Paper 2355). Washington : : World Bank. .

[10] Davies Victor A B. . 2000. . ‘Sierra Leone: Ironic Tragedy'’. . Journal of African Economies . , Vol. 9((3)): 349––369. .

[11] De Soysa Indra. . 2000. . “‘The Resource Curse: Are Civil Wars Driven by Rapacity or Paucity’. ”. In Greed & Grievance ‐ Economic Agendas in Civil Wars . , Edited by: Berdal Mats and Malone David M.. Boulder , CO : : Lynne Rienner. .

[12] Deutsch Karl W. . 1957. . Political Community and the North Atlantic Area . , Princeton , NJ : : Princeton University Press. .

[13] Doyle Michael W. . 1986. . ‘Liberalism and World Polities’. . American Political Science Review . , Vol. 80((4)): 1151––1169. .

[14] Elbadawi Ibrahim and Sambanis Nicholas. . 2000. . ‘Why Are There So Many Civil Wars in Africa? Understanding and Preventing Violent Conflict’. . Journal of African Economies . , Vol. 9((3)): 244––269. .

[15] Frynas Jedrzej George. . 1998. . ‘Political Instability and Business: Focus on Shell in Nigeria’. . Third World Quarterly . , Vol. 19((3)): 457––478. .

[16] Frynas Jedrzej George and Mellahi Kamel. . ‘Political Risks as Firm‐Specific (Dis) Advantages: Evidence on Foreign Firms in Nigeria’. In: . Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Academy of International Business (AIB), UK Chapter; . April 6–7– ; . Manchester Metropolitan University. .

[17] Global Witness. . 1999. . ‘A CRUDE AWAKENING ‐The Role of the Oil and Banking Industries in Angola's Civil War and the Plunder of State Assets’ .

[18] Government of Angola. . 1994. . ‘Lusaka Protocol: Lusaka, Zambia, 15 November 1994’ . Luanda :

[19] Hanlon J. . 1991. . Mozambique: Who Calls the Shots? . , Oxford : : James Currey. .

[20] Hodges Tony. . 2001. . Angola ‐ From Afro‐Stalinism to Petro‐Diamond Capitalism . , Lysaker : : Fridtjof Nansen Institute & International African Institute. .

[21] Hyden Goran. . 1983. . No Shortcuts to Progress . , Nairobi : : Heinemann. .

[22] IMF (International Monetary Fund). . 1999. . ‘Staff Country Report No. 99/25’ . , Washington : : IMF. .

[23] Kaldor Mary. . 1999. . New and Old Wars ‐Organized Violence in a Global Era . , Cambridge : : Polity Press. .

[24] Keen David. . 1998. . ‘The Economic Functions of Violence in Civil Wars’ . , (Adelphi Paper). Oxford : : Oxford University Press. .

[25] Le Billon Philippe. . 2001. . ‘Angola's Political Economy of War: The Role of Oil and Diamonds, 1975–2000’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 100:: 55––80. .

[26] Messiant Christine. . 2001. . ‘The Eduardo Dos Santos Foundation: Or, how Angola's Regime is Taking Over Civil Society’. . African Affairs . , Vol. 100:: 287––309. .

[27] Oneal John R and Russett Bruce M. . 1999. . ‘Assessing the Liberal Peace with Alternative Specifications: Trade Still Reduces Conflict’. . Journal of Peace Research . , Vol. 36((4)): 423––442. .

[28] Osiander Andreas. . 1998. . ‘Rereading Early Twentieth‐Century IR Theory: Idealism Revisited’. . International Studies Quarterly . , Vol. 42((3)): 409––432. .

[29] Pegg Scott. . 1998. . International Society and the De Facto State . , Aldershot , , UK: : Ashgate. .

[30] Polachek Solomon W. . 1980. . ‘Conflict and Trade’. . Journal of Conflict Resolution . , Vol. 24((1)): 57––78. .

[31] Reno William. . 1998. . Warlord Politics and African States . , Boulder , Colorado : : Lynne Rienner. .

[32] Ross Michael L. . 1999. . ‘The Political Economy of the Resource Curse’. . World Politics . , Vol. 51((2)): 297––322. .

[33] Selfridge H Gordon. . 1918. . The Romance of Commerce . , London : : Bodley Head. .

[34] Snidal Duncan. . 1991. . ‘International Cooperation Among Relative Gains Maximizers’. . International Studies Quarterly . , Vol. 35((4)): 387––402. .

[35] UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). . 1999. . Angola: Economic Developments in 1998 . Luanda :

[36] 2000. . Human Development Report . , New York : : UNDP. .

[37] United Nations. . 1979. . “‘Multinational Corporations in World Development’. ”. In Transnational Corporations and World Order . , Edited by: Modelski George. . San Francisco : : W. H. Freeman. .

[38] Viner Jacob. . 1937. . Studies in the Theory of International Trade . , New York : : Harper and Brothers. .

[39] Vines Alex. . 1996. . Angola Between War and Peace: Arms Trade And Human Rights Abuses Since The Lusaka Protocol . , New York : : Human Rights Watch. .