The twilight of resource nationalism: From cyclicality to singularity?

Abstract

The transition to a low-carbon world invites us to reassess the utility of concepts that were developed to understand the interactions between energy systems and the modern world. To this end the article critically unpacks the key concept of resource nationalism which asserts that clashes between resource-rich states and extractive companies are of a cyclical nature and are predominantly triggered by a combination of economic factors. The analysis demonstrates that such a reading of various conflicts between states and companies is of limited value and can only be presented if non-economic factors are largely downplayed. Most importantly, decolonization, which was a vital driver behind state-companies disputes in the second half of the last century, is often decentred in favour of other aspects, in particular, fluctuating commodity prices. The article argues that studies of today's clashes between states and extractive companies that predominately focus on minerals - which are critical for the low-carbon transition and renewable industries - should move away from a focus on cyclicality and give way to greater historical contextualization and emphasis on individual cases.