Blood Diamonds

Diamonds, a luxury good, have a romantic image in the West. Diamonds are associated with engagement rings symbolizing love and have an image of elegance and timeless treasure. Such images, along with an oligarchic market where artificial scarcity is generated through tight control over the influx of diamonds into the market, help generate huge profits. However, blood diamonds’ image of war and brutality goes against the grain of such an aesthetic portrayal. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) has sought to regulate the trade in blood diamonds.

The term blood diamond specifically refers to diamonds that are extracted and exported from particular regions in sub-Saharan Africa that are still ravaged by vicious and armed conflicts. These diamonds are alluvial diamonds, found very close to the surface ...