Bannon, I., and P. Collier. 2003. Natural resources and conflict: What we can do. In Natural Resources and Violent Conflict: Options and Actions, eds. I. Bannon and P. Collier. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, pp. 1-16.

3.3.3 ADDRESSING GRAND CHALLENGES: Limiting war, conflict, crime, and corruption War, conflict, crime, and corruption are major threats to sustainable development: directly destroying human lives, capital, infrastructure, and the environment; and, indirectly by diverting resources from development, increasing exploitation of natural resources, and encouraging personal security concerns to dominate the common good. There is evidence that conflict is reduced by equitable economic growth, increased state capacity, and inclusive democracy. Development seems to be necessary condition for security as is the reverse. But in the short term, the many initiatives at conflict prevention, peace-making and post-conflict peace-building pursued by the United Nations, the World Bank, donor states, a number of regional organizations and thousands of NGOs worked closely with UN agencies have been and can be effective. But amidst these efforts, a grand challenge is the recurrent “natural resources curse.” The Reading explores this link between natural resource endowment and conflict and what can be done about it.

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