Resource nationalism in critical minerals: variety of strategies in the South American Lithium Triangle

Martín Obaya

Chapter 31 in Handbook of Resource Nationalism, 2026, pp 495-511 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines contemporary expressions of resource nationalism through a comparative analysis of lithium governance models in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Framed within the broader reconfiguration of global production networks prompted by the energy transition, it explores how lithium's rising strategic importance has reshaped state strategies in resource-rich contexts. Resource nationalism is conceptualized as a dynamic and heterogeneous phenomenon, shaped by the interplay of global pressures, domestic institutions, and competing development imaginaries. The cases analyzed reflect a variety of governance approaches: Bolivia's early embrace of radical nationalist state-led control, Chile's gradual transition toward hybrid public–private models, and Argentina's continued adherence to a liberal regulatory regime. By embedding these trajectories in their respective political and institutional histories, the chapter offers a more differentiated account of resource nationalism in the context of decarbonization, underscoring the importance of national specificities in shaping critical mineral governance.

Keywords: Resource Nationalism; Lithium; Development; Lithium Triangle; Energy Transition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035333431
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