In conflict research, Aceh is presented both as a war over resources and as an "ethno-nationalist" and "ethno-religious" conflict (Searle, 2002; Bertrand, 2004; Ross, 2005). These differing assessments point to different aspects of the conflict and the complex matrix of causal factors or influential factors behind the conflict. Cultural factors, in particular the strict interpretation of Islamic practices in Aceh, a shared language and the memory of the pre-colonial Sultanate of Aceh and
the province's role in the struggle against the Dutch colonial powers and for an Islamic Republic of Indonesia in the early days of Indonesian independence are at the heart of the GAM's national self-definition. However, economic factors are likewise crucial to an understanding of the conflict, as the GAM's foundation coincides with the beginning of extraction of the large oil and natural gas
assets in the province.