Conclusion

Abstract

Chapter 9 concludes with a discussion of the core findings and implications for the future of resource competition and territorial conflict. It demonstrates Rent-Addiction Theory’s generalizability by applying it broadly to explain the decline in territorial conflict worldwide and the prospects for resource competition in regions beyond the Arctic, such as the Middle East and Africa. The core findings support the book’s thesis that what states make influences what they want to take. The theory suggests that, contrary to existing findings on the link between economic development and conflict, resource-driven development may make states more, rather than less, conflict-prone. This insight is critical for policymakers seeking to anticipate states’ responses to climate change and technological innovation, which are rapidly revealing seabed resources. Finally, the theory provides a novel explanation for why, despite a general decline in conquest, some states still have a strong interest in seeking profits from territorial expansion.