Fragmentation or cooperation in global resource governance? A comparative analysis of the raw materials strategies of the G20

Abstract

"Developments in the metals and minerals markets are creating great challenges for industries and governments. Prices have risen sharply over the past decade, with strong fluctuations. In many metal markets supply and demand are highly concentrated, with deposits localized in a handful of countries and production in the hands of just two or three companies. Increasingly frequent state intervention and speculative tendencies produce a situation where market mechanisms often fail to function satisfactorily. These challenges cannot be tackled by national action alone. Rather, in the worst case, political measures that appear rational for a single country may generate collectively negative outcomes at the global level. However, multilateral governance initiatives for minerals and metals are virtually non-existent. Differences between the G20 states concerning interests, economic frameworks, goals, and instruments stand in the way of effective international raw materials governance. That is the starting point for this study, which sets out to explore the opportunities and challenges for greater international cooperation by systematically analyzing the raw materials situations, strategies, and instruments of the G20 states. 'Fragmentation or Cooperation in Global Resource Governance?' is a collaboration between the SWP and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)." (author's abstract)