| Abstrakt: |
Natural resources like oil have been identified as a key trigger of political instability in developing countries, especially in Africa. Most problematic is that, unlike in other regions where natural resources have contributed to its growth, Africa continues to suffer from the abundance of natural resources. With the discovery of oil in Namibia as a recent scope, this study relies on the resource curse theory and qualitative method to interrogate various dynamics that characterizes Namibia's political landscape amidst its oil discovery. The study found that Namibia has a stable political environment; therefore, its oil discovery is more likely to turn into a blessing rather than a curse. However, the Namibian government ought to adopt preparatory measures that requires analysis of costs versus benefits, analysis of control mechanisms such as state institutions, as well as analysis opportunities that are to be derived from oil extraction. The study stresses that these analysis will assist the Namibian government in making informed decisions, thus strengthening its invulnerability to the possible effects of the resource curse. The study concludes by asserting that the discovery of oil in Namibia should be seen as a prospect for economic diversity rather than an invitation to political instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
