The Resource Paradox: Blessing or Curse?
| Module title | The Resource Paradox: Blessing or Curse? |
|---|---|
| Module code | POCM020 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Deborah Johnson (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
To meet global targets of decarbonisation and reach Net 0 requires significant expansion of mining. In this interdisciplinary module you will look at some of the social, environmental, economic and political ramifications of resource extraction around the world, with a focus on critical minerals. This module seeks to situate extraction within a broader nexus of security and development to go beyond dichotomous discussion about if these industries promote or impede ‘development’ and instead question how varied practices around the world challenge and complicate our understanding of what development, sustainability and responsibility is, how it happens and what it means in the first place. Natural resources drive the economies and technologies of the developed world but they also have a huge impact on developing societies. The challenges associated with extractive industries have different manifestations and complexities in different locations and across local, national and global scales. The international community is deeply implicated in the complex political crises that can emerge not only because it drives extractive industries but also because of the global governance mechanisms through which a wide range of actors engage in local contexts.
No specialist knowledge, skills or experience are required to take this module. It is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students. The module is suitable for students studying Politics, Mining and Geology, Geography, and History.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to enable you:
- To introduce mainstream and critical understanding about the relationship between critical minerals and development from an international perspective
- To link theory to a range of case studies and give students opportunity to research contemporary empirical cases
- To familiarize students with an inter-disciplinary literature which engages the social, political and economic impacts of resource extraction and resource conflict across the globe
- To challenge and engage with complex empirical cases from a range of levels of analysis
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge about resource extraction and resource conflict, with reference to state of the art theoretical debate as well as empirical examples
- 2. Demonstrate in depth understanding of debates about international concepts of and approaches to development, and criticism of them
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Assimilate taught materials and utilize them to critically analyse and evaluate conflict case studies
- 4. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of major political theories and understandings of how to apply them to empirical case studies identified in the course
- 5. Synthesise a range of literatures
- 6. Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical arguments within a significant sub-sector of academic and practitioner interest
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Research and write critically and analytically
- 8. Communicate complex arguments effectively through written submissions intended for a range of audiences
- 9. Communicate and defend stakeholder positionality
Syllabus plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Ethical consumption
- The resource curse and political economy
- Major theories about the relationship between resources and development
- Indigenous peoples and land conflict
- Case studies
- Conflict minerals
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 20 | 10 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 62 | For directed reading and completing formative assignment |
| Guided Independent Study | 16 | For completing the media briefing |
| Guided independent study | 4 | For preparing the presentation and debate |
| Guided independent study | 48 | For completing the research essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research essay outline | 300 words | 1-8 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Briefing Paper | 30 | 1200 words | 2-7, 9 | Written |
| Research Essay | 70 | 3000 words | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Briefing Paper (1200 words) | Media Briefing Paper (1200 words) | 2-7, 9 | Referral / Deferral period |
| Research Essay (3000 words) | Research Essay (3000 words) | 1-8 | Referral / Deferral period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Tortell. P (ed), 2024, Heavy Metal: Earth’s Minerals and Future of Sustainable Societies, Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK
- Vogel, C.N, 2022, Conflict Minerals Inc: War, Profit and White Saviourism in Eastern Congo, Hurst & Co, London
- Yakovleva. N and Nickless. E (eds), 2022, Routledge Handbook of the Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development, Routledge, London
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Antipode - Wiley Online Library
- Development in Practice | Taylor & Francis Online
- The Extractive Industries and Society | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
- Resources Policy | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
- Governing Artisanal and Small?scale Sand Mining in Bangladesh - Suykens - Development and Change - Wiley Online Library
- Search Result | SageExtractive Industries and Society
- Keywords(mining) Journal or book title(Geoforum) Content ID(271790) - Search | ScienceDirect.com
- Search results | Taylor & Francis Online
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 02/08/2017 |
| Last revision date | 24/03/2025 |
