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February, March and May edition
Letters to the editor
Readers' feedback to the articles of Henning Andresen, Benjamin Luig and Armin Paasch in our March edition, of Cletus Gregor Barié in the February edition and of Karim Okanla and Edward Harris in our May edition.
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West Africa
Blood diamonds
In late April, a UN Special Court based in The Hague, found former Liberian President Charles Taylor guilty because of the role he played in Sierra Leone’s eleven-year civil war. The trade in blood diamonds was the focal point of the trial, which demonstrated how natural resource exploitation can serve to fund armed conflict and lead to the abuse of human rights.
By Floreana Miesen
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Crisis areas
State of conflict
India is the world’s third-largest producer of iron ore and coal. Mining is lucrative but it causes conflicts: people are displaced so that corporations can exploit their land. Laws to protect the environment and Adivasis (tribals), who mainly inhabit large areas in India’s mining belt, are not enforced.
By Aditi Roy Ghatak
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Rule of law
On the state of the state
To a large extent, social development depends on resources, including human potential and capacity. But political will and governance matter too. The state must do more than allow markets to operate.
By Henning Melber
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Street vending
Eyesore or survival strategy
In most parts of the world, street vendors are a feature of urban life. While some unemployed people try to make a living this way, others cause mischief and some are plain criminals. In Malawi, street vending, crime and political activism have blended a frightening way – and women tend to be the main victims.
By Raphael Mweninguwe
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Governance
“A better narrative”
Natural resources often prove a curse for a country. Elites exploit the wealth without paying attention to people’s needs. They have no incentive to allow their nation’s human resources to develop. Oxford economist Paul Collier, however, argues that there is an alternative to plunder.
Interview with Paul Collier
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