Conflict minerals and the politics of stuff

Conflict minerals have become an important issue in the discourse surrounding the social and political impact of high-tech consumption with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being the primary focus for NGOs and legislators concerned with this issue. This chapter gives a brief insight into the nature of the conflict in the DRC and draws on a literature review to demonstrate that the complexity of the conflict goes beyond the simple narratives that circulate. It proceeds to outline the main uses of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG) in electronics and briefly discusses some of the different direct responses open to product designers which include sourcing materials from outside the DRC, designing 3TG out of products entirely and engaging with the conflict free sourcing initiative that has emerged. It speculates as to how each of these strategies might impact upon the people affected by the conflict. It concludes by questioning the extent to which designers and consumers should be exclusively burdened with the responsibility for resolving these issues. The chapter, ultimately, proposes that efforts should be made to channel the awareness-raising opportunities that the use of these materials present into developing a new narrative for a wider set of solutions for conflict resolution, peacebuilding and sustainable development.