Easy pickin's

The resource curse is mutually reinforcing with the imperatives of war. A world where there are so many easy pickin's available for the taking demands the build-up of military force to maintain balance. The cruel logic of the resource curse is that the surplus will be transformed into materiel and personnel to defend the surplus. Our world is a dangerous world because we persist in producing surpluses that are easy pickin's, alienable and ready to be hunted and plundered.