Resource Politics

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva went to Europe selling Brazil as the stable giant the world suddenly needs. From April 16-22, Lula traveled to Barcelona, Hannover, and Lisbon with a big delegation of ministers and development officials.   The message it was trying to send was clear. As the United States turns inward under Donald Trump, the Middle East burns, and Europe scrambles for safer partners, Brazil wants to be t...

Cotton is one of Turkmenistan’s most important exports and a major source of income for rural communities. The crop supports jobs, generates foreign currency, and plays a significant role in the country’s agricultural economy. Yet despite years of international scrutiny and recent reform efforts, concerns about labor practices in the industry continue to attract attention.   New reports published in 2026 suggest that forced lab...

A new debate is rising over how the United States handles deportations. Two recent cases show a sharp contrast that has shocked rights groups and confused many Americans. In one case, South American migrants were flown to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country they have never lived in. In another case, cruise‑ship workers involved in child‑exploitation crimes were simply sent back to their home countries rather than prosecuted for th...

Angola is preparing a major financial change that could reshape how debt is used in development. The country is working on a $400 million "debt-for-education" swap that would turn its debt repayments into funding for schools and learning programs. The plan is part of a wider $1.1 billion support package designed to strengthen the country's economy and improve public services.   Backed by the World Bank Group and the Multilateral Investment...

Angola, Namibia, and South Africa are increasingly treating the ocean as an economic asset rather than simply a natural resource.   Along their coastlines lies the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, one of the most productive marine regions on Earth. Stretching from South Africa to Angola, the current brings cold, nutrient-rich waters that support major fisheries, marine biodiversity, offshore energy development, and growing tourism ...