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- Convenor:
-
Sally Faulkner
(University of Sheffield)
Send message to Convenor
- Discussant:
-
Patrick Osei-Kufuor
(University of Cape Coast)
- Location:
- N3 (Richmond building)
- Start time:
- 6 September, 2017 at
Time zone: Europe/London
- Session slots:
- 1
Short Abstract:
Extractive industries often create social conflict, pitting local communities both against each other and against Governments and corporations. This panel will share research and experiences to highlight how differing forms of collective action may be reconciled to produce a sustainable outcome.
Long Abstract:
The extractive industries have a devastating impact on the environment, and the negative effects are felt most by local communities who may lose their access rights to natural resources. While some individuals and communities are able to benefit economically from the extractive industries, be it legally or illegally, others may find themselves excluded from these opportunities. In many poor communities, informal involvement in extractive industries provides a much-needed source of income, but this causes direct conflict with local communities and environmentalists who want to protect natural resources. A further complication is that many national governments need revenue from FDI, putting them into direct conflict with both groups. The definition of “sustainability” can therefore become contested.
Collective action is an important feature of social conflict over economic and environmental sustainability. Efforts to impose restrictions on those working in the extractive industries, especially informal workers, can lead to collective mobilization aimed at protecting their rights to economic development. At the same time, social action aimed at protecting natural resources from both large-scale industry and more informal, small-scale enterprises, is widespread.
What lessons can be learned from collective action and activism within the extractive industry sector? Under what conditions has collective action led to policy changes, both from the government and large-scale companies, and whom did these changes benefit? How can collective action further the conflicting aims of indigenous groups and local communities, and how can the rights of all those concerned be reconciled to produce an outcome that is truly “sustainable”?
Accepted papers:
Session 1Paper short abstract:
This paper provides the first quantitative investigation of the impact of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on corruption in Zambia.
Paper long abstract:
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is internationally recognised as a leading anti-corruption scheme, which promotes transparency, accountability and good governance of public oil, gas, and mining revenues. This paper provides the first quantitative investigation of the impact of EITI on corruption in Zambia using an approach called Synthetic Control Method. It investigates whether the effects of the scheme are concentrated in particular stages of its implementation and reviews the operational challenges faced in this context.
Paper short abstract:
What this paper aim is to examine and discuss the politics of oil, environment, conflict and security in the Nigeria's Niger Delta region.The diagreement 'greed versus grievance' between companies & communies led to the conflicts in the region.
Paper long abstract:
In the oil-rich Niger Delta region, the ongoing conflict is between two distinct actors: those clamouring for local ownership of the oil-rich environment and the state; and its allies who struggle to maintain the national ownership of the natural resources. The local communities in the oil-bearing region are posing threats to state legitimacy through the formation of armed civilians groups waging war against the federal government of Nigeria in the name of environmental justice. The reckless exploitation of the natural resources in the Niger Delta amounts to environmental devastation - ecological war. The activities of the oil companies have a devastating impact on people's health, the environment, and the ecosystem. The multinationals oil companies supported by Nigerian state depend heavily on violence to maintain and sustain their interest to control and exploit the oil in the Niger Delta. This paper will explore the interface between the environment, conflict and security in the oil-rich restive Niger Delta.
Paper short abstract:
The informal mining sector has a variety of impacts on the populations affected by it and their ability to act collectively, both in mining settlements and the miners’ home communities. This presentation looks at this problem in relation to sustainability by drawing on evidence collected from PhD fieldwork in Peru.
Paper long abstract:
There is much discussion in the literature about local people acting collectively in a bid to prevent large-scale mining developments. A number of countries in Latin America have seen protests against the multi-national corporations who are attempting to establish gold mines as it is felt that these developments have serious environmental consequences with little economic benefits for those who live locally.
However, both collective action and sustainability come in many different forms and mean different things to different actors. While much of the literature on collective action focuses on large-scale mining, the analysis of the social relationships that form and evolve around the informal and illegal mining sectors can also contribute to an of understanding economic and environmental sustainability.
In Peru, large numbers of families are involved in the informal mining sector in some way, with a large majority of these migrating from the Andes to work in mining settlements in Madre de Dios. In most cases, it is only working-age males who migrate, with their wives and families usually staying behind. This not only creates a trans-local community, but also has implications for the economic sustainability of households and communities in both regions and influences the strength of community ties and collective actions.
This presentation discusses preliminary findings from 5 months PhD fieldwork in Peru, during which a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with informal miners and their families. It will focus on the collective action insights arising from the data collection and their links to sustainability.