Sebastian Matthes, Universität Kassel
The study focuses on the social impact of oil extraction in Latin America. The key questions are: what are the effects of resource extraction at the local and national levels, and what are the driving forces for the extraction-based strategy of economic development. For this purpose, the project compares oil extraction in the states of Bolivia and Ecuador.
The study will discuss this issue of extractivism against the background of a new social-political context: in the first decade of the new millennium broad processes of political transformations have taken place in both countries; new progressive governments came to power and announced a break with the traditional political culture. As a result, new constitutions have been initiated and implemented in both countries. For the indigenous people these reforms promised a broader recognition and participation within the nation-state. Regarding the issue of oil extraction, the research highlights what changes these transformations brought – especially for the indigenous populations at the local and national levels. The intensive extraction of natural resources is a point of conflict with a historical dimension between the nation-state, different local communities, ethnic groups and transnational (or state-owned) companies. The different stakeholders are struggling for land rights, the ownership and control of specific natural resources; in the view of the fact that many extractive activities (such as hydrocarbon drilling, mining or large-scale agriculture projects) are taking place on indigenous territories. Furthermore the central issues are the environmental impact of extraction, the distribution of environmental risks, and, not least, the revenues generated out of the resource business.
In this investigation, I will analyze who the stakeholders are, as well as their interests and how they act within the space of natural resource rent distribution (the rentier-space). Moreover, I will highlight the question of the social impact of extractivism on the local and national levels. Following these questions, I will critically examine, what the driving forces of the ongoing extractivism in Latin America are.