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Research Question
Title: Natural Gas in Mozambique: A Blessing or a Burden? Will the extensive
natural resource lead to broad development for the next generation?
The idea:
In this paper I will address a big reoccurring question about Africa and her resources:
is she blessed with the resources she has, or are they a burden? My paper will look at
the case of Mozambique and the recent find of extensive natural gas reserves. My
hypothesis will posit that the gas reserves are a blessing. The null hypothesis will
claim that the reserves in fact present a burden. My independent variable will be the
natural gas reserves, and my dependent variable will be broad development. I will
define broad development as constituting two aspects: economic growth and
correlatively development as freedom the individual agency that comes with
economic development (as expressed by Amartya Sen). Thus, the null hypothesis will
state that having the natural gas reserves will not lead to, or, will negatively affect, one
or more aspects of here-called broad development the more promising angle in this
regard would likely point to a limit on freedom for Mozambicans due to the foreign
interest in the gas reserves and/or the potential limiting consequence of civil war
around the interest in the resource. My argument for the claim that the gas reserves
will lead to broad development will be premised on three areas that distinguish the
uniqueness of Mozambique and its gas reserves: 1) the nature of the resource (being
energy it can drive Mozambiques own growth); 2) the geography of Mozambique
(coastal and central for easy transport of resource and a potential hub for Africa) 3)
Mozambiques planned commitment to Mega-projects surrounding the reserves
(which will lead to inclusive involvement of surrounding communities). These three
factors will enable Mozambique to make the most of their gas reserves which will
drive economic growth and provide greater opportunity to Mozambicans thus
constituting greater agency and freedom (development as freedom) [expected
conclusion].
Literature:
I will extensively use the work of Amartya Sen for the discussion around broad
development. I will make use of various energy studies for a more focused look at
natural gas and the important points that surround that resource (Global Energy

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Outlook; Sasol Natural Gas Project and others there is extensive research in this
area). The work of Raul Prebisch will thread through my analysis of the null
hypothesis (which will reference dependency theory and the resultant limit on broad
development); various commentaries by other scholars on his work and dependency
theory will also be useful in this regard.
Wont:
Although I will briefly touch on salient points from other cases in Africa, I will not do
a wider study of other cases in Africa that represent examples of resources being a
blessing/burden. Thus, my study will not be a comparative study.
Why:
I think this will be a fascinating study because of the history of Africa and her
resources: there has always been an overhanging question about whether Africa would
have been better off without substantial resources that could be exploited. But now,
more interestingly, the question has morphed into a new question, can Africa make
the most of her resources and use them to facilitate growth and development? My
study will try to show that yes is a possible answer to the latter question through the
example of Mozambique and her natural gas reserves.
The resultant abstract
from the above points
Abstract:
This paper looks at the case of Mozambique and the recent find of extensive natural
gas reserves; specifically, to what extent may they represent a blessing or a burden?
The natural gas reserves will represent the independent variable and broad
development will be the dependent variable. This paper will argue for the claim that
the gas reserves will lead to broad development; the argument will be premised on
three areas that distinguish the uniqueness of Mozambique and its gas reserves: 1) the
nature of the resource - the energy of the future can drive Mozambiques economic
growth; 2) the geography of Mozambique - coastal and central for easy transport of
energy and a potential hub for Africa; 3) Mozambiques planned commitment to
Mega-projects surrounding the reserves - which will lead to job creation and inclusive
involvement of surrounding communities. These three factors will enable
Mozambique to make the most of their gas reserves, which will drive economic
growth and provide greater opportunity to Mozambicans, thus constituting greater
agency and freedom and therefore support the link between the gas reserves and broad
development.
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