Africans Do Not Live By Bread Alone: Against Greed, Not Grievance

Abstract

Scholars, NGO activists, and journalists have fed the official mind and popular imagination with a particular kind of explanation of conflict that privileges the economic. Civil war is about resources: rebels are motivated by greed, not grievance. Rebels mine diamonds to buy arms. Diamonds are the heart of the matter. A robust campaign against “blood diamonds” - diamond coming from conflict areas- is one way of depriving rebels of funds to make war. Devoid of historical context,explanations such as these remain captivating but unhelpful.