Price of Gold Slides The Price of Gold
The Paradox of Plenty & Conflict Economics
Learning Objectives
The "Resource Curse"
Define the Paradox of Plenty and explain why resource-wealthy nations often face slower economic growth and less democracy.
Conflict Incentives
Analyze how high-value natural resources provide economic motives for factions to prolong armed conflict.
The DRC Case Study
Connect historical legacies and current economic realities to the "World War of Africa."
5 Minute Warm-Up
"Is having an abundance of natural resources always a blessing for a country?"
Arguments for YES
Wealth for development, energy independence, global trade leverage.
Arguments for NO
Corruption, economic instability (Dutch Disease), civil war.
Africa's World War
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is arguably the most resource-rich nation on Earth. Yet, it has been the site of the deadliest conflict since WWII.
Focus Points:
Mobutu's copper boom & bust
War for profit vs. politics
The role of foreign investment
Embedded media
Watch segments: 01:47-02:22 and 07:15-08:00
The Resource Gamble
Classroom Simulation
Government
Goals: Stability & Tax Revenue. Temptation: Personal wealth.
Rebels
Goals: Seize resource mines. War = Points/Profit.
Corporations
Goals: Maximum extraction. They fund whoever is in control.
Civilians
Goals: Survival & Peace. Every round of war = Point Loss.
OBJECTIVE: Win the most wealth while avoiding state collapse.
Reflection
"A soldier is like a dog. If you open the gate, he causes damage... We ransacked houses, we took cell phones, money, and gold necklaces from people."
Journal Prompts:
1. How did the simulation's incentive structure favor conflict over peace?
2. Is the "Resource Curse" inevitable for the DRC?
Resource Curse Teacher Guide The Price of Gold
Teacher Facilitation Guide
ECONOMICS / AP HG
Duration
50 Minutes
Grade Level
11th - 12th Grade
Key Vocabulary
Paradox of Plenty, Clientelism, Commodity Price, Sovereign State, Extraction.
Lesson Sequence
0-5m
Warm-up Debate: Pose the question: "Is resource wealth a blessing or a curse?" Allow students to debate briefly. Focus on the idea of "easy money" vs. long-term development.
5-20m
Video & Context: Watch segments of Crash Course World History #221. Pause at 02:22 (The Mobutu Bust) to discuss how dependence on one commodity (copper) crashed the economy. Pause again at 08:00 to discuss the shift from politics to "war for profit."
20-40m
The Simulation: Divide students into factions. Run 3 rounds of resource trading/looting. (See simulation mechanics below).
40-50m
Debrief & Journaling: Use the reflection prompts to connect simulation behavior to the real-world DRC conflict.
Simulation Mechanics
Setup
Assign 4 groups: Government, Rebels, Corporations, Civilians.
Civilians start with "Resource Cards" (Hidden under their desks or in an envelope).
Corporations start with "Wealth Points" (poker chips, tokens, or tallies).
Round Structure
Extraction: Civilians "harvest" resources.Action Phase: Rebels can choose to "LOOT" (take cards from Civilians). Government can "TAX" (take cards from Civilians or Corps).Market Phase: Corps buy resources from whoever has them.
Faction Dynamics
Government: Their power comes from controlling the trade. They must choose between building infrastructure (spending points for Civilian happiness) or "Clientelism" (keeping points to pay off the Corporations for security).
Rebels: They have no formal power but can use "Conflict" to seize resources. Conflict costs the Government and Civilians points, but the Rebels get the resources for free. This simulates how war becomes a "job" in a failed economy.
Corporations: They don't care about politics, only "Future Revenue." They can switch sides and fund the Rebels if the Rebels control the mines. This represents the 2007 China-DRC deal and historical colonial extraction.
Civilians: The only group that actually produces wealth, but they are vulnerable. If war happens, they lose cards and points. They "win" by surviving with the most points at the end.
Teacher Tip: The Rigged Game
The simulation is designed to be frustrating. Halfway through Round 2, announce that the commodity price of copper has crashed . The Corporations should suddenly offer half as much for resources. This forces the Government and Rebels to be more aggressive to maintain their wealth, illustrating why economic instability leads to violence.
Critical Thinking Questions (During Debrief)
1. Why did the Rebels find it more profitable to fight than to participate in the government?
2. How did the actions of the Corporations influence the duration of the conflict?
3. If the DRC had a history of strong educational institutions (as John Green notes was missing in 1960), how might the simulation have played out differently?
"Resource Curse Simulation" Facilitator's Supplement — AP Human Geography / World History
Resource Curse Simulation Pack Resource Curse: Faction Briefings
Faction A: The State
"Order through authority."
Goal: Maintain power by accumulating wealth points.
Ability: TAX. You can take 1 resource card from every Civilian group per round. You can also tax Corporations for "Protection."
Constraint: If you don't give at least 2 points to Civilians (Infrastructure) each round, they might support the Rebels.
Faction B: The Insurgency
"Profit through disruption."
Goal: Seize resource wealth to fund your "cause."
Ability: LOOT. You can take 2 resource cards from any group of your choice. This triggers "Conflict Mode."
Constraint: During "Conflict Mode," all cards you hold are worth 1 point less because you have to sell them on the black market.
Faction C: The Extractor
"Business is business."
Goal: Extract the most resources for the lowest price.
Ability: TRADE. You start with 20 Wealth Points. You are the only group that can "buy" resources and turn them into points.
Constraint: You must always have a "Partner." If the Government is too expensive, you can fund the Rebels to get cheaper access.
Faction D: The Locals
"Survival through peace."
Goal: Accumulate wealth and keep it.
Ability: HARVEST. You draw 3 resource cards at the start of every round. They represent your land's wealth.
Constraint: You are the primary targets of both Taxing and Looting. Your only defense is a stable Government.
CONFIDENTIAL // SIMULATION USE ONLY // DO NOT REMOVE FROM CLASSROOM
Printable Resource Cards
Cut along dashed lines. Distribute 10 to each Civilian group to start.
GOLD
VALUE: 5 PTS
GOLD
VALUE: 5 PTS
COPPER
VALUE: 2 PTS
COPPER
VALUE: 2 PTS
DIAMOND
VALUE: 10 PTS
DIAMOND
VALUE: 10 PTS
COPPER
VALUE: 2 PTS
COPPER
VALUE: 2 PTS
GOLD
VALUE: 5 PTS
GOLD
VALUE: 5 PTS
GOLD
VALUE: 5 PTS
COPPER
Price of Gold Reflection Journal Reflection Journal
Lesson: The Price of Gold & Conflict Economics
Student Name:
Date:
1
In the simulation, how did your faction's economic incentives drive your behavior? If you chose "conflict" or "corruption," why was that more profitable than cooperation?
2
Analyze the quote: "A soldier is like a dog. If you open the gate, he causes damage." How does this relate to the economic reality of a "failed state" where natural resources are the only source of wealth?
3
Based on today's lesson, is the "Resource Curse" a death sentence for a country's development, or can the cycle be broken? Provide one potential solution (e.g., international regulation, education, transparency).
DRC Case Study: Conflict & Commodities
