Do different types of natural resources have different effects on internal conflicts?

Abstract

I re-estimate a baseline conflict model presented by Ross (2012), by using a logit model. Whereas Ross (2012) examines the relationship between oil income per capita and civil war, I examine the relationship between fuel exports (% of GDP) and civil war, and mineral exports (% of GDP) and civil war, respectively. I test whether different types of natural resources give different types of internal conflicts. The two types of conflicts that I consider are (i) separatist conflict and (ii) government conflict. I find that neither fuel exports (% of GDP) nor mineral exports (% of GDP) are significantly linked to the onset of civil war. Mineral exports (% of GDP) is only significantly linked to separatist conflict, whereas fuel exports (% of GDP) is not linked to either two conflict types.