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The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme: Examining its Effectiveness in Mitigating Conflict Diamonds

Elshult, Katarina LU (2015) STVK12 20151
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Diamonds are one of the most valuable elements on earth, having the potential to contribute to economic development. However, in recent years, it has come to the world’s attention that the illicit trading in diamonds has financed gruesome wars and human rights abuse, and the problem has not gone away. These diamonds have come to be termed as conflict diamonds. In order to mitigate conflict diamonds altogether, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established in 2003. The KPCS has shown to have had mixed success since its implementation in the conflict diamond affected countries. Both Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe are members of the KPCS, but have had different outcomes since joining. The KPCS has in fact shown to be more... (More)
Diamonds are one of the most valuable elements on earth, having the potential to contribute to economic development. However, in recent years, it has come to the world’s attention that the illicit trading in diamonds has financed gruesome wars and human rights abuse, and the problem has not gone away. These diamonds have come to be termed as conflict diamonds. In order to mitigate conflict diamonds altogether, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established in 2003. The KPCS has shown to have had mixed success since its implementation in the conflict diamond affected countries. Both Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe are members of the KPCS, but have had different outcomes since joining. The KPCS has in fact shown to be more successful in mitigating conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone than in Zimbabwe.

The aim of this paper is to determine why the KPCS has been more successful in mitigating conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone than in Zimbabwe. This has been done by conducting a qualitative comparative case study of Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe in order to establish under what circumstances the KPCS can be most effective and successful. Relevant political theories have been used for the sake of answering the aim. The findings of this paper show how diamond geographical characteristics, as well as whom the main beneficiaries of the conflict diamonds are, has a significant impact on the KPCS capacity to be effective in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. The paper concludes that the major problem of the KPCS effectiveness lies in the KPCS official definition of conflict diamonds. (Less)
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author
Elshult, Katarina LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK12 20151
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Conflict Diamonds, KPCS, Effectiveness, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
language
English
id
5435523
date added to LUP
2015-07-14 12:40:03
date last changed
2015-07-14 12:40:03
@misc{5435523,
  abstract     = {{Diamonds are one of the most valuable elements on earth, having the potential to contribute to economic development. However, in recent years, it has come to the world’s attention that the illicit trading in diamonds has financed gruesome wars and human rights abuse, and the problem has not gone away. These diamonds have come to be termed as conflict diamonds. In order to mitigate conflict diamonds altogether, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established in 2003. The KPCS has shown to have had mixed success since its implementation in the conflict diamond affected countries. Both Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe are members of the KPCS, but have had different outcomes since joining. The KPCS has in fact shown to be more successful in mitigating conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone than in Zimbabwe. 

The aim of this paper is to determine why the KPCS has been more successful in mitigating conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone than in Zimbabwe. This has been done by conducting a qualitative comparative case study of Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe in order to establish under what circumstances the KPCS can be most effective and successful. Relevant political theories have been used for the sake of answering the aim. The findings of this paper show how diamond geographical characteristics, as well as whom the main beneficiaries of the conflict diamonds are, has a significant impact on the KPCS capacity to be effective in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. The paper concludes that the major problem of the KPCS effectiveness lies in the KPCS official definition of conflict diamonds.}},
  author       = {{Elshult, Katarina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme: Examining its Effectiveness in Mitigating Conflict Diamonds}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}