If we offer a prize, so to speak, to anyone who manages to…
“If we offer a prize, so to speak, to anyone who manages to bring a country under his physical control - namely, that they can then sell the country's resources and borrow in its name - then it's not surprising that generals or guerrilla movements will want to compete for this prize. But that the prize is there is really not the fault of the insiders. It is the fault of the dominant states and of the system of international law they maintain.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that powerful states create incentives for war by allowing the exploitation of conquered resources, making conflict a profitable prize rather than a moral failure of rebels.
In simple terms: Powerful states make war profitable, not rebels.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic incentives for conflict.
Themes
politics
economics
conflict
ethics
law
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- human rights advocacy
- conflict resolution
- development planning
Key Concepts
International relations
resource exploitation
state sovereignty
legal frameworks
Questions to Reflect On
- How do internal grievances intersect with external incentives?
- What reforms could reduce resource‑driven conflict?
A Different Perspective
The quote overlooks internal motivations and agency of local actors.