TAS Introduction

TAS Introduction

The globalization of weakly-governed markets for natural resources, coupled with the decline and occasional misuse of development assistance, and with aggressive promotion of unbalanced trade and macroeconomic management rules, lead to conflict in a number of ways. This volatile mix can drive economic degradation, fuel tensions within and among countries, create a space for sub-state actors to enrich themselves through the perpetuation of conflict, and strain international and national mechanisms for keeping the peace.

Security is an essential precondition for sustainable development. Without security, social institutions cannot function, people cannot plan for the future and businesses cannot safely invest.

It is increasingly clear that the rising tide of international trade in natural resources does not automatically reinforce stability or security. Nor is aid as currently constructed successfully achieving its aim of poverty alleviation. Our contention here is that a lack of progress on both fronts reflects an inadequate appreciation of the links between these policy spheres.

Where to read more…

Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book, 2007 - Trade, Aid and Security: an agenda for peace and development (PDF - 154 kb) » Oli Brown, May 2007 In this article for the Commonwealth Ministers Reference Book (CMRB), IISD project manager Oli Brown explores the links among trade, aid and conflict. The CMRB is the flagship annual publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat and is distributed to every government minister in the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. Previous authors for the CMRB include Professors Joseph Stiglitz and Jeffrey Sachs, and U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.
6 Key Objectives
A series of six policy briefs that explain where international policy-makers should focus their attention if trade and aid policies are to support peace and security rather than increasing the likelihood and longevity of violent conflict.
Trade, Aid and Security: Elements of a Positive Paradigm (PDF - 460 kb) » Mark Halle, Jason Switzer, Sebastian Winkler, 2004 An overview of the links between trade in natural resources, aid and conflict. Unstable aid flows, illicit trade of natural resources in exchange for arms, and unacknowledged costs of adapting to the international trade regime are together fuelling instability and insecurity. Achieving sustainable development requires refocusing these regimes to support human security.
Trade, Aid and Security: Introduction, Background and Conceptual Framework (PDF - 187 kb) » Duncan Brack, 2004 Trade policy and aid policy can be designed to reduce such natural resource-related conflict and improve post-conflict recovery. Conversely, if misused, trade and aid policy can undermine security and contribute to violence.

For more information please contact: Oli Brown or Sebastian Winkler.

Key Publication

Trade, Aid and Security: An agenda for peace and development

» Oli Brown, Mark Halle, Sonia Peña Moreno, Sebastian Winkler, Earthscan, 2006.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur. All resonate loudly on the international stage, exposing and illustrating the intractable links among global security, war and conflict, the control over natural resources—be they oil, water, timber or "conflict diamonds"—and the deployment of aid money and the manipulation of international trade policies. This volume, written by leading authorities from across the globe, introduces the linkages among trade, aid and security, and exposes how inappropriate or misused trade and aid policies can and do undermine security and contribute to violence and the disintegration of nation states. On a practical level, they demonstrate how six key areas of trade and aid policy can be used to help forge stability and security, reduce the likelihood of armed conflict and assist economic and political recovery in our war-torn world. Foreword by Lloyd Axworthy. More...

» Themes

» Initiatives

» Trade, Aid and Security (TAS)

» Business and Conflict

» Environment and Security (E&S)