Research Project Hierarchies of Rights

Investments into natural resources
Large-scale investments into natural resources have the potential to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and strengthen links between local economies and world markets. However, investments often end up upsetting rights and causing social protests and political instability.The project aims to analyse how struggles related to large-scale investments into natural resources affect rights, particularly of small-holders, to land in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Tanzania and Mozambique
Based on a set of primarily qualitative comparative case study methodologies, the program studies how investments into oil/gas, mining and agriculture in Tanzania and Mozambique affect small-holders' rights to land. Both countries have experienced a dramatic surge in large-scale investments and, subsequently, political tensions, intense negotiations and conflicts over rights.Mozambique and Tanzania have both undergone wide-ranging 'neo-liberal' reforms to promote private investments and they are both developing democracies that leave some room for political dissent. The main difference between the two countries lies in their political settlements. Tanzanias elite are more fragmented than those in Mozambique which may explain why Mozambique recently has been able to prepare for and push through more investment projects at a faster pace than Tanzania.Research will be carried out by two teams in each country. Studies will be paired across the countries and follow common research guidelines.

Oil/gas, minerals and agricultural investments
Resource types will be selected along the entire cotinuum from extremely high value oil/gas over the high value minerals to lower value agricultural investments. The program deducts two variables: type of natural resource investment and the political settlement and political sociology literatures.

Impact
The project strives to offer input for local civil society, national governments, and multinational corporations on how to better manage disputes over land and natural resources and create conditions for inclusive growth and political stability. It also seeks to provide guidance for donors on how to harness development aid towards strengthening small-holders' rights and avoiding the resource curse in Sub-Saharan African countries undergoing resource booms.