Extractive Industry and Socio-environmental Inequalities in Latin America: Tracing Relationships between Conflict and Inclusion

In the last couple of years Latin America has experienced an extractive boom. In many Latin American countries the exploitation of natural resources is the driving force behind economic growth and revenues from the export of minerals or hydrocarbons generate financial means for public social policies. On the other hand extractivism triggers deep social conflicts and disputes on recognition, participation and distribution of gains, risks and costs.

Dr. Anthony Bebbington is Higgins Professor of Environment and Society and Director of the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University (USA). He is also a Fellow of the research network on interdependent inequalities in Latin America desiguALdades.net.