Title: Socio-Environmental Conflicts and Institutions in Resource-Based Economies: The Case of Mining in Peru and Colombia
Author/Institution: Quincy Stemmler – Comparative Political Economy Research
Publication Year: 2022
A Comparative Look at Two Mineral-Rich Nations Facing Parallel Tensions
Stemmler’s research offers a nuanced comparative analysis of how socio-environmental mining conflicts unfold in Peru and Colombia—two countries with similar geological endowments but distinct political and institutional trajectories. Drawing from case studies in the Andes and Amazonian foothills, the study argues that mining conflicts do not emerge simply because of environmental harm or inadequate compensation. Instead, they arise from deeper structural frictions: mistrust in state institutions, fragmented regulatory authority, and unresolved historical grievances between central governments and rural or Indigenous regions. By examining both countries side by side, the thesis shows how subtle institutional differences can profoundly shape when, how, and why communities mobilize.
The Role of Institutions in Shaping Acceptance, Resistance, or Breakdown
Methodologically, the study integrates political-economy analysis, institutional mapping, and field interviews to assess how governance frameworks mediate conflict dynamics. In Peru, decentralization reforms have amplified local governments’ influence, often complicated national permitting and creating overlapping channels for contestation. In Colombia, the peace-process context and territorial autonomy debates have strengthened community claims over land, water, and prior consultation rights. Stemmler demonstrates that in both settings, the formal rules of the game—environmental licensing, social consultation, dispute-resolution mechanisms—are often overshadowed by informal practices, political bargaining, and uneven enforcement. These governance gaps allow small grievances to escalate into large-scale mobilizations, blocking projects even when companies comply with regulatory requirements.
Reassessing Conflict Governance in the Era of Critical Minerals
The study concludes that as global demand for copper, gold, and transition minerals accelerates, Peru and Colombia face mounting pressure to reconcile extractive ambitions with the expectations of rural and Indigenous populations. Stemmler argues that traditional consultation procedures and environmental assessments, while necessary, are insufficient without institutional coordination, transparency, and trust-building. Effective conflict governance requires bridging the divide between national development goals and territorial rights—aligning incentives, strengthening local institutions, and creating credible mechanisms for participation and accountability. In a global context where social license to operate has become a determining factor in project viability, the thesis provides a crucial insight: mining conflicts are rarely about mining alone; they are about the capacity of states to mediate power, rights, and development in contested landscapes