The Extractive Resource Curse Revisited: Absolute Versus Relative De-Industrialization in Africa
October 21, 2025
This conference will discuss papers selected following the call for contributions for the special issue of the journal “The Scramble for Critical Minerals,” co-edited by Rabah Arezki (CNRS, CERDI & FERDI), Rick van der Ploeg (University of Oxford), and Christopher Adam (University of Oxford). Two sessions will also be organized focusing on public policy orientations, encouraging discussion between institutional actors, researchers, and the private sector.
Global demand for critical minerals—such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements—is rapidly increasing as countries advance their energy and digital transitions. These minerals are essential for batteries, semiconductors, and clean-energy technologies, and their production is heavily concentrated in developing economies. Major economic powers are therefore competing to secure reliable supply, reshaping global trade and geopolitics. China currently dominates much of the value chain, prompting the United States and the European Union to seek diversified partnerships, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia.
For mineral-rich countries in the Global South, this surge in demand offers significant opportunities for growth and industrialization. Yet without strong institutions, transparent contracts, and effective revenue management, these opportunities risk perpetuating long-standing dependencies. Instead, the goal is to turn the scramble for critical minerals into an opportunity exploiting the potential for local value addition and greater participation in global value chains.
The global scramble for minerals also raises major environmental and social concerns, including conflict in resource-rich regions, deforestation, pollution, and labor abuses. Ensuring responsible extraction requires robust governance and international cooperation.
Session chair: Patrick Guillaumont
Session chair: Rabah Arezki
Discussion
Session chair: Rick van der Ploeg
Discussion
Session chair: Christopher Adam
Moderator: Grégoire Rota-Graziosi
Session chair: Simone Bertoli (or Christopher Adam)
Session chair: Vianney Dequiedt
Discussion
Session chair: Rick van der Ploeg
Discussion
Moderator: Martial Foucault
Organizers: Audrey-Anne de Ubeda and Bulbul Butail
Facilitator : Alou Adessé Dama
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