This short course will give insight into the governance of natural resources, drawing on different disciplines and theoretical approaches such as political ecology, global value chains, and gender.

We will discuss the governance of renewable and non-renewable resources such as water, forests and minerals in a globalized world, the associated governance problems (e.g. tragedy of the commons, resource curse, conflict minerals), and the different forms of solutions to these problems that are proposed at the local, national and global level.

Theories and concepts will be illustrated with case study material from the DR Congo and other African countries. After 26 April students will engage in an action research on a related topic.