To develop your knowledge and understanding of key concepts principles, challenges, theoretical frameworks and debates concerning natural resource governance at local, national and cross-border levels; and of processes of conflict, co-operation and justice relating to access to, and use of, such resources.
To establish advanced appreciation of the characteristics and challenges of governance and management of land, forests, water, fisheries and mineral natural resources in developing countries; particularly in the context of fragile or conflict-affected areas and of perceptions of resource scarcity.
To develop students’ advanced awareness of issues of conflict sensitivity, gender sensitivity, and fragility/resilience in relation to natural resource policies and programmes in developing countries, and particularly in fragile or conflict affected contexts; and to provide students with skills to apply guidelines and methods developed to address these issues.
Outline Syllabus
Key concepts, types and characteristics of rights, practices and challenges for tenure of natural resources, including land, water, forests, river basins, seas, fisheries and mineral resources; and also key concepts and theories for understanding such characteristics - generically and in developing countries.
Examining the challenges of natural resource tenure, governance and exploitation in developing states, and particularly in fragile and conflict affected states; with illustrations from around the developing world.
The evolution and dynamics of international debates and strategies for improving natural resource governance in developing countries, and associated contemporary policy agendas: from state-building, ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up community approaches to mixed multi-level agendas.
Examination of the distinctive sector characteristics, agendas, conflicts and lessons-learned relating to: land; water; forests, river basins; fisheries; seas; and mineral resources: including issues of conflict, mitigating natural resource curse’, co-operation, sustainability, gender, and equitable access.
Addressing fragility and resilience in natural resource governance reform processes; particularly in fragile and conflict affected contexts; and in the context of post-conflict or post-crisis recovery programmes.