Fuelling poverty: oil, war and corruption | Land Portal

Resource information

Date of publication: 
January 2003
Resource Language: 
ISBN / Resource ID: 
eldis:A12590

This report argues that for many developing countries, oil reserves are more likely to prove a curse than a blessing. Poor countries dependent on oil revenues have a higher incidence of four great and interconnected ills. Oil, in these conditions, becomes the key ingredient in a 'lethal cocktail' of: greater poverty for the vast majority of the populationincreased corruptiona greater likelihood of war or civil strifedictatorial or unrepresentative governmentThe authors look particularly at the experience of Angola, Sudan and KazakhstanThe report recommends:regulations requiring oil companies to publish what they pay to oil-producing countriestransparency of oil money in these countries' budgets, with public-sector contributions to governments being used as the lever to achieve thisa proportion of oil revenue being held in trust for the people of the countrya system of restrictions and embargoes within the oil trade to restrict the sale of 'blood oil'.

Authors and Publishers

Publisher(s): 

Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.


We work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality. We are part of a wider movement for social justice.


We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

Data provider

eldis (ELDIS)

Eldis is an online information service providing free access to relevant, up-to-date and diverse research on international development issues. The database includes over 40,000 summaries and provides free links to full-text research and policy documents from over 8,000 publishers. Each document is selected by members of our editorial team.


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