Debating Alternative Development at the Mining Frontier:Buen Vivirand the Conflict around El Mirador Mine in Ecuador

Abstract

In Ecuador, the recent introduction of mineral mining led to a conflictive debate on mining and development, particularly the concept of (good living). This article examines the discourses on the mining–development nexus articulated in the conflict around the first large-scale mine of Ecuador, El Mirador. The findings indicate that although the conflict concerns tangible territorial transformations, it is also a struggle over meanings. In this struggle, has become subject to strategic framing processes and eventually turned into an empty signifier. The case of El Mirador illustrates the challenges of advancing from concept to practice in the context of a search for a post-neoliberal development framework.

Introduction: Environment and Society in Contemporary Latin America

“…The latter images have been especially advocated by national governments and large companies. Interestingly, although Andean governments today also use the symbolic indigenous images of Pachamama and Buen Vivir in their discourses, their meaning has been reframed (see Teijlingen and Hogenboom, 2014). The governments have adapted such images to a political agenda in which nature mainly serves to support national development.…”

Negotiating Water and Technology—Competing Expectations and Confronting Knowledges in the Case of the Coca Codo Sinclair in Ecuador

“…In this sense, the different levels and forums of policy negotiation do not necessarily meet and, therefore, the policy-making and governance processes lack mutual dialogue and multi-level stakeholder interaction. Arguably, the Ecuadorian state-centrist political context is also behind this (see also [28,56]); there has been only limited participatory processes, public debates and political inclusion. This has also been visible in the minimal critical discussion concerning energy policy issues or the CCS in the national media.…”

Bem Viver como paradigma de desenvolvimento: utopia ou alternativa possível?

“…Em particular, o processo de implementação da equidade orientada para o sistema de proteção social, erradicação da pobreza e inclusão, exigem um esforço orçamental significativo e construção de consenso entre diversas instituições e agentes públicos e privados para permitir a reunião de esforços que convergem em um pacto social e fiscal que irá permitir-lhe viabilidade e sustentabilidade ao longo do tempo (CEPAL, 2014, p.10 O conceito surgiu há menos de uma déca-da (Teijlingen & Hogenboom, 2017) e tem sido referido como: filosofia de vida (Acosta, 2010), cosmologia (Walsh, 2010), atitude de vida (Cortez, 2011), ontologia (Thomson, 2011), modelo de desenvolvimento (Radcliffe, 2012) e alternativa ao desenvolvimento (Gudynas, 2011).…”