2 - The Political Economy of Diamonds, Governance & Civil War

Summary

Research suggests that where development has been hindered, countries have a higher risk of conflict. Civil war and the increased risk of this are closely aligned to development. Moreover, poor governance is also closely associated with conflict and political instability. This chapter will briefly consider a number of issues that arise from debates on civil war more generally and their impact on development. Such discussions will help to contextualise developments in Sierra Leone and, in particular, the relationship that was forged between various Sierra Leonean governments and the diamond industry from 1951 onwards. It was the protectorate-based Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) led initially by Milton Margai that was able to secure the majority of votes to form the first Sierra Leonean government. Margai became Sierra Leone's first prime minister in 1961 (Hayward 1987). A succession of governments followed, but it was the All Peoples Congress (APC) led by Siaka Stevens and latterly by Joseph Momoh that came to dominate Sierra Leonean politics and economy in this period. The chapter will consider causal factors offered for the outbreak of war as debated in the secondary literature. It will conclude by examining the way diamonds became the currency through which conflict was perpetuated by several players.