Poisoned Wells—The Dirty Politics of African Oil

Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil (Palgrave Macmillan), by Nicholas Shaxson, looks at the root causes of the paradox of poverty from plenty, and explores the mechanisms by which oil causes grave instabilities and corruption around the globe. Nicholas Shaxson is the only journalist who has had access to the key players in African oil, and is willing to make the connections between the drama of the developing world, leading global corporations, and governments. The result is an explosive story with dangerous, glamorous characters, which reveals the unsettling connections between poor and rich nations.

Revenue Watch Institute hosted a book launch for Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil.

Panelists

• Nicholas Shaxson, Journalist
• Ian Gary, Oxfam America
• Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch

Immersing the reader in the complicated and conflicting worlds of Africa’s oil barons, Poisoned Wells exposes the international threats and hidden aspects of the world in which we live, but know little about. Through these personalities and their stories, and drawing on more than a decade of experience in these countries, Shaxson shows how the oil industry has helped advance a process of decay, conflict, tyranny, and rising poverty.

Shaxson also spoke on his book at OSI's New York office.