Oil and Conflict: Fatal Attraction? A Correlational Examination of Oil Resources and Armed Conflict

Abstract

A concern over the potential for resource competition to serve as a driver for conflict has established the need to more fully examine the relationship between energy resources and conflict. This exploratory correlational study examined the relationship between oil resources, armed conflict and stability. The ability of abundant oil resources to attract conflict and the ability of oil resource deficits to compel participation in armed conflict abroad were both explored. Since instability may be a precursor to conflict, the relationship between oil resources and stability was also examined. Overall, no statistically significant relationships were found between oil resources and either armed conflict or stability. However, stability was significantly related to both hosting and participating in conflict, although with opposite polarities. Results indicate that in today's global environment oil resources alone may be insufficient as an indicator of energy's contribution to active, armed conflict.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA518144

Entities

People

  • James E. Mcginley

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Casualties
  • Cold War
  • Data Sets
  • Department Of Defense
  • Homeland Security
  • Instability
  • Intensity
  • International Security
  • Literature Surveys
  • Natural Resources
  • Resource Management
  • Risk Factors
  • Security
  • United Nations
  • United States
  • Violence

Readers

  • Economics
  • Marine Ecotoxicology
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.