Globalization and Conflicts: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Corporations in Africa.

This article investigates the causal impact of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on violent conflicts in Africa between 2007 and 2018, using a novel georeferenced dataset combining MNE affiliates and headquarters with detailed conflict event data. The study finds that increased multinational activity, particularly in land-intensive sectors such as agriculture and forestry, significantly raises the incidence of violent conflicts, especially in areas targeted for large-scale land acquisitions. These conflicts are primarily localized violent events, like riots, linked to grievances over land expropriation, which threatens local food security and livelihoods. Individual-level survey data further indicate that residents near land-intensive MNE operations are more likely to identify land management and agricultural issues as major governmental concerns. The findings suggest that land governance reforms and inclusive local development policies are critical to mitigating conflict risks associated with multinational investments in Africa.