Zimbabwe''s Diamond Trade - The State, Resource Politics and Development

What happens when states experience a rapid increase in resource wealth? This book examines the significant diamond find in eastern Zimbabwe in 2006, possibly the largest in over 100 years, and its influence on the institutional trajectory of the country. Nathan Munier examines how this rapid increase in resource production shaped the policies available to political actors, providing a fresh understanding of the perpetuation of ZANU-PF rule and the variation in the trajectory of institutions in Zimbabwe compared to other Southern African states. This study places Zimbabwe amongst the overall population of resource-wealthy countries such as such as Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, especially those that experience a significant increase in production. In doing so, Munier contributes to the understanding of resource politics, political economy, and comparative African politics.

List of contents

1. The diamond curse in Zimbabwe; 2. Natural resources and the state; 3. The ownership structure of Zimbabwe's diamond sector; 4. Mode of exchange in Zimbabwe's diamond sector; 5. Diamonds, democratic opposition and the GNU in Zimbabwe; 6. Zimbabwe and diamonds in the Southern African region; 7. Resource wealth and the opaque state; Works cited; Index.

About the author

Nathan Munier is an Associate Professor of International Relations at Tokyo International University. Previous publications include The Political Economy of the Kimberley Process (Cambridge, 2020). His research has also been published in Africa Spectrum, Resources Policy, and the Review of African Political Economy.

Product details

• Authors: Nathan Munier, Nathan (Tokyo International University) Munier
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.01.2026
• EAN: 9781009674768
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0967476-8
• No. of pages: 200
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; 20th Century, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / General, Zimbabwe, 21st Century, 21st century history: from c 2000 -, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, 21st century, c 2000 to c 2100, Political structure & processes, African History, Mining Industry, Political structure and processes, Extractive industries