Paper short abstract:

This paper seeks to analyze the conflict presented between the actors involved in the field of gold mining in Colombia, especially Afro-descendant communities in Chocó, from institutional neoliberal reforms originated with economic liberalization and the current model of "mining locomotive".

Paper long abstract:

This paper is based on the results of research conducted under a grant-internship awarded by Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia -Colciencias for a year (from June of 2011 to June of 2012). The study included 1.) The identification of new scenarios of relationship and negotiation of social actors involved in the management and direction of mining and environmental policies in the country, 2) the policies, state programs and most significant legal reforms in exploitation of mineral resources review, and finally 3) the inquiry by alternative processes related to access and sustainable use of mineral resources, for which we conducted a case study on the gold miners afro-descendientes communities from "Tado" and "Condoto" in Choco, Colombia, some of them are linked today to the Corporación Oro Verde ("Green Gold Corporation").

I argue that Colombian government today sustain its development model on the "mining locomotive". In the context of neoliberalism, Colombia has created a legal and political platform to promote large-scale mining with help of foreign influences, which leads to its relationship with various stakeholders to be in conflict. One of the most serious conflicts is the violation of the recognized principle by the National Constitution for the protection of ethnic and cultural diversity of the nation through mechanisms that reproduce exclusion. This exclusion is caused by the incompatibility of the exploitation of mineral resources and the protection of social integrity.