A people vs. corporations?: Self-determination, natural resources and transnational corporations in western sahara
- Autores: Raphaël Fisera
- Localización: Anuario de acción humanitaria y derechos humanos = Yearbook of humanitarian action and human rights, ISSN 1885-298X, Nº. 2, 2005, págs. 15-66
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
Since the mid-1970s, the Western Saharan conflict has defied 60th resolution and understanding, as an entire people, split between refugee camps in the Algerian desert and the MQroccan occupied territory, has been waiting for the international community ity to effectively enforce its right to self-determination.
Through a combination of legal and geopolitical perspectives on the issues related to the exploitation of the rich natural resources in the last African territory still to be decolonised, this research paper will argue that transnational corporations (TNCs) can directly affect the welfare and the self-determination of a people, while the means to enforce corporate accountability remain limited and poorly adapted to the current global realities. The recent media campaigns led by NGOs against TNCs active in this area demonstrate the key raje of global civil society in the emergence of corporate accountability and in reminding individuals, corporations and governments of their ethical and legal obligations towards indigenous peoples such as the Saharawis.
This paper will first consider the historical and socio-economic context of the conflict and the importance of natural resources in this dispute (chapter 1) before addressing the dimension of the exploitation of these resources by occupying power and third parties (II). I will then argue that decision of Morocco to involve Western oil and gas TNCs in Western Sahara represents a complicating factor to the conflict and has created a new, corporate playing field for the flicting parties (111). The last chapter of this analysis will address the current political and legal mechanisms for ensuring accountability of such TNCs and assess whether campaigns global civil society actors provide an effective, alternative avenue for corporate accountability (IV).
