Social movements and extractivist mining in Latin America and the Caribbean: reshaping pathways of development?

Leonith Hinojosa, Salvador Martí i Puig and Victor Tricot

Chapter 9 in The Elgar Companion to the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2025, pp 222-239 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Social movements in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have been pivotal in promoting sustainable natural resource use, just as the mining sector has significantly contributed to economic growth in mineral-rich countries. This chapter, covering the period from the early 2000s to the present, examines the intricate relationship between mining, social movements, and development in the LAC region. As mining activities expanded, they often exacerbated social and environmental conflicts, prompting social movements to challenge “extractivism” and the rentier-state economic model, and to advocate for equitable resource distribution, environmental sustainability, and greater political participation. The chapter addresses the economic, social, and political impacts of mining, particularly the uneven distribution of benefits and negative externalities affecting local populations. It also highlights how social-environmental movements have reshaped environmental governance and influenced the emergence of alternative economic development strategies, especially in rural and Indigenous Peoples’ territories. By analyzing these dynamics, it aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the sociopolitical challenges of mining development in the region, emphasizing the need for inclusive and sustainable resource policy and management that addresses the demands of the most affected left-behind populations.

Keywords: Socio-environmental conflicts; Extractivism; Rentier-state; Resource-curse; Indigenous Peoples social-environmental movements; Sustainable mining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035317196
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