Landmines in Cambodia: Past, Present, and Future By Wade C. Rober ...

to leave land uncleared, even if the land is of “little or no” economic benefit (Keeley 2006, 294).Mandates to universally clear land ignore financial limitations inherent within mine clearance initiatives and discount the variance of land value that exists. Additionally, this approach ignores the fact that landmines/UXO do not kill people; interaction with ordnance is what kills people.

Keeley investigated the role of various economic tools within Mine Action. Recognizing that resources are limited within Mine Action efforts, Keeley drew from traditional economic theory and subjects these limited resources to economic criteria that seek to maximize efficiency and surplus value. Specific allocation techniques Keeley analyzed involve cost-benefit analysis, multicriteria analysis, linear programming, game theory, and risk analysis. In addition to applying each of these economic tools individually, Keeley made comparisons between the various methodologies in an attempt to maximize results within Mine Action. For example, cost-benefit analysis is compared directly to multicriteria analysis. Analysis takes place within each model and conclusions are reached. Recommendations are made about the allocation of insufficient funds among various Mine Action pillars, land clearance priority determination, and the reconciliation of land values and human life values.

Keeley’s work was instrumental in linking Mine Action to economics. Additionally, this work made efforts to distinguish between decisions made on economic grounds alone and endeavors to consider human issues. More exactly, a comment referenced in Keeley’s work, made by an unidentified NGOreads as follows: “By looking only at productive land we are reducing the mine problem to a largely economic issue rather than an issue symptomatic of poverty and vulnerability” (317).Accordingly, a concern for the human element of landmine/UXO incidents was indicated in this work.

I rely greatly on the work done by Keeley in linking economic frameworks to Mine Action. While Keeley’s work helps to support my research, an important distinction does exist. At the time of Keeley’s work, the majority of incidents occurring in Cambodia were accidental