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“El río es vida” Afro-Colombian resistance to externally driven mining in the river Yurumanguí

Pfefferli, Karen LU (2015) SIMV29 20151
Department of Political Science
Master of Science in Development Studies
Graduate School
Abstract
Large-scale mining has been declared to be a central development strategy of Colombia which has caused the emergence of resistance movements of peasant, ethno-territorial and indigenous groups. This study analyses the concept of resistance in the framework of the Afro-Colombian community of the river Yurumanguí. This community has managed to keep its territory free from externally driven mining and represents one of the few exceptions in the region. The purpose is to investigate the collective resistance against a form of development that has not entered the territory yet. Based on a qualitative case study research design consisting of semi-structured interviews with community leaders and workshops with community members, the study... (More)
Large-scale mining has been declared to be a central development strategy of Colombia which has caused the emergence of resistance movements of peasant, ethno-territorial and indigenous groups. This study analyses the concept of resistance in the framework of the Afro-Colombian community of the river Yurumanguí. This community has managed to keep its territory free from externally driven mining and represents one of the few exceptions in the region. The purpose is to investigate the collective resistance against a form of development that has not entered the territory yet. Based on a qualitative case study research design consisting of semi-structured interviews with community leaders and workshops with community members, the study demonstrates the relevance of the river and the importance of the community’s collective identity. The conservation of the territory, anticipated environmental damages and an increasing presence of armed groups are further reasons to avoid externally driven mining. Furthermore, the study explores the notion of development through the examination of local alternatives. From this analysis it is concluded that the logic of a community-driven development prevails, in which the defence of the territory is of the ultimate importance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Pfefferli, Karen LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV29 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
resistance, mining, development, territory, black communities, Colombia
language
English
id
5468815
date added to LUP
2015-06-16 09:46:58
date last changed
2015-06-18 14:04:26
@misc{5468815,
  abstract     = {{Large-scale mining has been declared to be a central development strategy of Colombia which has caused the emergence of resistance movements of peasant, ethno-territorial and indigenous groups. This study analyses the concept of resistance in the framework of the Afro-Colombian community of the river Yurumanguí. This community has managed to keep its territory free from externally driven mining and represents one of the few exceptions in the region. The purpose is to investigate the collective resistance against a form of development that has not entered the territory yet. Based on a qualitative case study research design consisting of semi-structured interviews with community leaders and workshops with community members, the study demonstrates the relevance of the river and the importance of the community’s collective identity. The conservation of the territory, anticipated environmental damages and an increasing presence of armed groups are further reasons to avoid externally driven mining. Furthermore, the study explores the notion of development through the examination of local alternatives. From this analysis it is concluded that the logic of a community-driven development prevails, in which the defence of the territory is of the ultimate importance.}},
  author       = {{Pfefferli, Karen}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“El río es vida” Afro-Colombian resistance to externally driven mining in the river Yurumanguí}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}