Post 3

Scarcity occurs when something that is needed or valued is in short supply. This leads to competition for these resources. This applies to a number of situations that vary as far importance goes. There could be a limited number of tickets to see your favorite comedian or a limited number of new shoes at a store. There may be long lines to gain access to tickets but it usually do not lead to any sort of real conflict. However the scarcity of popular new shoes upon release has led to conflict and violence while people stand in line. If the scarcity of trivial items can lead to violence and conflicts then I believe that scarcity of necessities such as food, water, and other natural resources can lead to violence and conflict in the areas that need them.

Thomas Homer-Dixon argues that scarcity of needed resources leads to conflict while Michael Klare argues that the inevitable shortage of resources will lead to “resource wars” in the future. Both authors argue similar points. Homer-Dixon looked at developing countries and argues that the lack of resources that are necessary to survive like food, water, and land creates intrastate conflict. Klare’s research looks at the needs of developed countries. Energy sources like oil and gas what are needed for these countries to continue functioning the way that they are currently. As consumption increases these resources are going to become increasingly rare which will lead to developed countries getting into conflicts over them. These conflicts that Klare and Homer-Dixon observe are actually going on at the same time in some locations.

            Scarcity hits less developed countries the hardest. These countries have little to no infrastructure. This is usually due to some sort of corruption within the governments of these countries who keep the profits from natural resources and do not invest it into the country. This lack of adequate infrastructure can be linked to these countries having extreme high rates of poverty. This causes competition and often conflict over access to things like rivers which would be a valued water source. The lack of necessities stresses the citizens of these countries and can lead to them turning to other options such as rebel groups.

The dissent created by scarcity within these less developed nations gives outside nations a window to extract valuable resources that are scarce to them. Klare discusses this very thing in one of the readings.  He writes that the “competition for access to critical materials has also emerged as a major source of friction within states” (Klare 428). Klare goes on to state many of the disputes identified in the Western media as “ethnic or religious conflicts” in African countries “are in fact struggles between competing warlords, militias, and government factions for control “over mines, oil fields, timber stands, farmlands, and other resources” (429). Outside powers and giant corporations often become entangled in these struggles. It is not uncommon for these players to side with and fund one faction in order to maximize their extraction of valuable resources.

These kinds of conflicts show that scarcity plays a role in many types of conflict. It affects developed countries the most because these conflicts take place within them. However developed countries are affected by scarcity but usually use proxies within developing countries to settle them. However as these resources get more and more scarce, rival developing countries may get into more direct confrontations.