Gas and Development: Rural Territorial Dynamics in Tarija, Bolivia

Abstract

Framed by concepts of territorial project, social coalitions, and scalar relationships, we analyze rural territorial dynamics under conditions of rapid expansion in natural gas extraction. Analyzing recent economic, political, and territorial transformations of Bolivia's gas-rich region, Tarija, we argue that pre-existing territorial projects of a diverse set of subnational and national actors have: (i) shaped the influence of the gas industry on local dynamics; (ii) changed the scale relationships between local communities, the state, and companies; and (iii) mediated the transformation of territories in ways determined by the nature and aspirations of these territorial projects. Ó 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/3.0/).

The Politics of Indigenous Participation Through “Free Prior Informed Consent”: Reflections from the Bolivian Case

“…There are large reserves of oil and gas, many of them yet untapped, across these biologically and culturally diverse territories. In recent years, record oil prices, growing global demand, new technologies and commodity-based national economic strategies have led to unprecedented levels of natural resource exploration and extraction in these areas (O'Rourke and Connolly, 2003;Hinojosa et al, 2015). The result is both a new kind of politics that encourages the deployment of indigenous symbols and culture (Grugel and Riggirozzi, 2012) alongside massive environmental and social disruption due to deforestation, drilling platforms, pipelines and pollution.…”

Lessons for multi-level REDD+ benefit-sharing from revenue distribution in extractive resource sectors (oil, gas and mining)

“…This can cause volatile public spending and borrowing and stifle long-term growth (Fischer 2007). Hinojosa et al (2015) highlight how large fiscal transfers in Bolivia can distort local economies and politics (e.g. the 'gas wars').…”

“…For example, indigenous (or other sub-national identity-based) groups may claim compensation or territorial rights regardless of national law. In other cases, local government may make demands over revenues for local development as the national ownership of the resource itself obliges local government to support these sub-national projects Hinojosa et al 2015).…”

“…However, other literature highlights the way in which national governments try to get control over extractives for national social or political projects or for private gain for governing elites (Bebbington 2013;Hinojosa et al 2015). National governments may also wittingly aggravate conflict at this level to give them the excuse to gain back control (Hinojosa et al 2015).…”

“…National governments may also wittingly aggravate conflict at this level to give them the excuse to gain back control (Hinojosa et al 2015). On the one hand, then, producing localities have high expectations for a share of wealth from extractive resources produced in their territories (Agustina et al 2012).…”