Nick Shaxson, the TJN media officer has a new book out 'Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil'. He's talked about it in the US edition of Harper's magazine. Perhaps the most telling quotes are these:
In America, the idea of "no taxation without representation" underpins democracy and capitalism. But in Angola, rulers tax oil companies, not citizens; so they can be as corrupt as they like, oppress or forget about their subjects, and still wallow in oil money.
and:
People often put the problem like this: oil money would be a blessing but politicians steal it, so people don't see the benefits. But it's much worse: the oil wealth not only doesn't reach ordinary people, but it actively makes them poorer. It took me years to really accept this counter-intuitive idea. But after all I've seen, I have no doubts.
Recommended reading.
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Richard
I know that you don’t watch films very often, but there is a very poignant moment in the brilliant but violent Blood Diamond when an elderly villager in a Sierra Leonean village devastated by marauding rebels financed by illegal diamond trade, turns to the hero and comments “it could be worse, let’s hope they don’t find oil here.”
Highly recommended viewing for all those who don’t understand how the resource curse has devastated large parts of Africa.
Best wishes,
John