The Management of Conflict in Natural-resource Projects

The chapters in this book deal with a wide range of issues related to investment decisions in natural-resource projects, including the economic, political and social environment of such projects and their special characteristics, both national and international. Even after a commitment has been made by both sides to embark on a resource project, serious conflicts may arise among the parties that may endanger the successful operation of the project. Thus, after compromises have been effected in the original negotiation of a mining agreement, the same issues may be raised at any time during the life of the project; as conditions change so do the perceptions of the parties of the advantages and disadvantages of the agreement. Renegotiations are likely to be called for but the circumstances in which they take place will be different. Experience will have changed expectations, and the bargaining position of the parties will have changed. This chapter considers the application of some of the recent work in the theory of conflict management to conflicts that could endanger the success of large-scale natural-resource projects.