Community and company development discourses in mining: The case of gender in Mongolia

Abstract

This thesis examines ontological commitments and accompanying discursive power relations that frame the negotiation of Mining and Development in the minerals industry in the South Gobi of Mongolia. The aims of the analysis are to explore the culture of companies and communities in the region, critically examine the discourse of the shared relationship, and assess implications for community development initiatives in the minerals industry more broadly.By premising and privileging the culturally situated subject, Women and Development feminist theory assists in unpacking the power relations between communities and mining companies situated within or governed by cross-cultural contexts. An analysis of the discourse on Mining and Development, gender issues and patriarchy in the context of Social Impact Assessment processes, reveals asymmetrical power relations operating both within and between companies and communities that have an effect on community development. In applying a feminist theoretical perspective, the thesis argues that the companies' ontological commitments differ markedly from those of the South Gobi communities with which they are engaged, resulting in different conceptualisations of 'development', social impacts, and decision-making processes.The thesis demonstrates that commitments to particular ontological frames lead companies to implicitly prioritise their own notions of power, change, and impacts over those of the community. The thesis contends that the lack of understanding of Mongolian ontology generates conflict, tensions, and/or unsustainable practices for both communities and companies in the South Gobi. Research in this thesis indicates that the recognition of difference between these ontological commitments needs to be central to the discourse of Mining and Development in Mongolia if the benefits of mining are to be enhanced for the community.Limited research has been conducted into the impacts and development associated with the rapidly emerging mining industry in Mongolia. This thesis identifies and explores key themes around the negotiation of change in Mongolia, which provides insight into the broader field of Central Asian Studies. Similarly, the thesis contributes to the emerging fields of Mining and Development, and Gender and Development by providing an original critique to enable an understanding of minerals development in a developing world context.

Disturbance preceding displacement: Development practice in preparation for mining and resettlement

“…In theory, the phase should represent a critical moment for building relationships and setting shared expectations between actors. For example, Cane's (2014) research about the gendered dimensions of mining in Mongolia has highlighted the phase as an important "expectation setting" period between actors.…”