Resource Nationalism and the Violation of Indigenous Rights in Mexico’s Oil Industry: The Case of a Chontal Community in Tabasco

For decades, Indigenous communities living in Mexico’s oil-producing state of Tabasco suffered violence, environmental contamination, and the destruction of their traditional livelihood. The administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) taking office in 2018 promised to govern for the poorest people in Mexico, emphasizing the wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. However, as part of his nationalist agenda AMLO is pursuing aggressive exploitation of hydrocarbons upon the lead of state-owned company Pemex. This article argues that the Mexican government still denies Indigenous peoples living nearby oil reserves the right to self-determination. We examine this phenomenon through the Chontal community of Oxiacaque in the state of Tabasco suffering environmental contamination and health problems caused by the oil industry. We emphasize the government’s use of resource nationalism to legitimize violence against Indigenous communities and their natural environments. Further, the expansion of social programs and infrastructure building serves to obtain Indigenous compliance with the unsustainable fossil fuel industry.

Natural Resources and Violent Conflicts: Water and Energy in Kyrgyzstan

Water since 1991 has been at the centre of competition and controversy among the downstream countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) and the upstream countries (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). In recent years, increasing competition for water at an alarming rate only added to an already uneasy tension. While the downstream countries require more water for their agriculture and domestic needs, the impoverished upstream countries are attempting resource nationalism to accrue benefits using the precious waters. In the context of this milieu, this article attempts to examine the connection between resourcefulness and interstate and intrastate conflict in Central Asia and particularly in Kyrgyzstan.

Tanzania’s extractive sector faces mixed prospects

Significance Renewed momentum for these projects is being viewed positively by investors, many of whom are still struggling with the slow bureaucracy and resource nationalism of President John Magufuli’s administration. Impacts With decision-making ever-more centralised, the president’s approval (and attention) will be critical to the success of new projects. Reportedly advanced special mining license talks with Peak Resources and OreCorp will be watched for further signs of government intent. Movement on the Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline will open up an array of opportunities for subsidiary service providers.

Mopani deal will exacerbate Zambia's debt crisis

Significance This boosts President Edgar Lungu's re-election prospects in August, but ZCCM-IH will struggle to find a 'strategic partner' to replace Glencore. Mounting public debt will undermine efforts to convince the IMF that the government has a path to debt sustainability, depriving Zambia of access to concessional lending and stalling negotiations with bondholders. Impacts Resource nationalism will play well on the Copperbelt, improving the ruling party’s prospects in a region key to securing a poll victory. With little chance of an IMF deal, Lungu will likely make further pre-poll gestures, such as salary increases for public-sector workers. Monetary policy is also likely to suffer, with the central bank under pressure to fund the government's reckless borrowing.