3
Value of Territory
Besides providing the state with a right to interact in the international community,
sovereign territory also provides for the foundation of a homeland from which to form a national
identity, secure borders to protect the state’s citizens, and economic gain resulting in exploitation
of the earth’s natural resources such as oil, diamonds, and water. Such territorial gains or benefits
come from territory that displays one or unique value, as listed in Table 1: 1) significant material
value, 2) nationalist value, 3) neither material nor nationalist value, or 4) both material and
nationalist value.
Table 1 – Value of Territory
Number of
Disputes
Material value only
3
– no nationalist value
19
Challenger nationalist value – no material value
15
Defender nationalist value – no material value
14
Both challenger and defender nationalist value –
no material value
25
Neither value - challenger
51
Neither value – defender
52
Both values – challenger
10
Both values – defender
13
Territory with significant material value is defined according to the criteria set up by
Huth (1996): natural resources within the disputed territory that could generate export earnings.
4
Economic gain from farming, markets and other types of businesses located on the territory do
3
When disputed territory has material value, it is considered to have material value for both the challenger and
defender since the challenger could already be accessing the material value or will have a potential material gain if
the territory is divided.
4
Natural resources include oil, manganese, iron ore, lead, titanium, cobalt, tin, uranium, sulfur, copper, water, zinc,
phosphate, diamonds, lead, chromium, bauxite, gold, silver, nickel, and tungsten. If the disputed territory is an
island, nearby rich fishing grounds and seabed minerals are included in measuring material value (Huth 1996, 257).
Although Huth does not account for changes in material value, such as the discovery of oil part way through a
dispute, the data set used in the larger thesis does take this into account and codes changes of material value.
Convention