Book Review: Natural Resource Conflicts: From Blood Diamonds to Rainforest Destruction

Abstract

This two-volume set explores nearly seventy international case studies related to the environmental and political aspects involved in natural resource management. As the title suggests, the focus is on geographic areas where conflict has ensued as a result of the scarcity or abundance of natural resources in the area. Each case study is framed as a question, and includes an overview of the topic, as well as two essays that are often points of debate surrounding the topic. The volumes are divided geographically, and volume 1 covers, international conflicts, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, while volume 2 covers the Americas and Europe. Additionally, volume 2 contains 120 pages of key concepts that provide descriptions and details which range in length from one paragraph (“Endangered Species Act”) to four pages (“environmental ethics”).