Identifying an Academic Gap in Southeast Asian Mining Contexts

A recent academic review published in May 2025 has shed light on a significant blind spot in global research on the Social License to Operate (SLO): the relative absence of community-centered studies in Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding mining sector. While much of the literature on SLO focuses on corporate strategies, regulatory frameworks, and case studies from Latin America, Canada, or Australia, the review found that mining in Southeast Asia remains underexplored from the perspective of local communities, particularly those whose livelihoods, cultural practices, and environmental resources are directly affected by extractive activities. This academic gap has implications not only for research equity but also for policymaking, as it suggests that models of SLO drawn from other contexts may not translate effectively to the region.