Networks of Resistance: A Regional Analysis of Extractive Conflicts in Central America
Abstract
This dissertation examines the multifaceted impacts of mining operations and the evolution of multi-scalar anti-mining activism by focusing on three important case studies in Central America: El Escobal in Guatemala, El Dorado in El Salvador, and Inversiones Los Pinares in Honduras. Utilizing a comparative empirical analysis, the study explores the strategies of anti- mining activists, including community-based communication initiatives to uphold the right to consultation and information for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, efforts to fuel skepticism about mining companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and responses that counter the effects of smearing campaigns and criminalization of anti-mining actors. The theoretical framework of this dissertation is grounded in Environmental Justice and emphasizes the pivotal role of community members, civil society organizations, environmental activists, and scholars in organizing anti-mining resistance efforts. Drawing on fieldwork, interviews, and focus groups, this project bridges insights from network theory and political ecology to document the violence faced by anti-mining actors and trace the emergence of cross- scalar “networks of resistance.” Emphasizing the significance of cross-scalar actions, coalition- building initiatives, and a conflict transformation approach in anti-mining mobilization, the research underscores strategic interventions such as direct-action protests, community consultas, communication campaigns, solidarity delegations, and co-production of public reports. The research identifies framing approaches and strategic storytelling strategies as crucial elements in crafting effective communication outputs, signaling a shift from traditional North-to-South solidarity to more horizontal formations in the global struggle against metallic mining projects. Finally, by integrating political, economic, legal, socio-cultural, and ethical dimensions, this dissertation also explores the emergence, mobilization, and cross-sector communication potential of the Central American Alliance on Mining (ACAFREMIN) as a network of resistance models. The battle against mining is a global issue, and networks of resistance have a crucial role to play.