Social-ecological conflicts around industrial salmon farming in Chiloé, Southern Chile: common problems, fragmented actors
Sprache des Vortragstitels:
Englisch
Original Tagungtitel:
Social conflicts, extractive industries and coporate influence in Latin America between resistance and legitimation - Panel at CEISAL International Conference
Sprache des Tagungstitel:
Englisch
Original Kurzfassung:
Systematic and theoretically informed inquiries into the relationship between labor and environmental conflicts are rare. Northern class-based approaches root their explanation of a ?red-green divide? on interest-based cleavages and cultural differences between working-class trade unions and middle-class environmental movements. In the global South, however, the dividing line between class and social struggles seems to be more blurred. They are often linked to broader livelihood and environmental issues. This is particularly, but not exclusively, evident in resource-based sectors and in the case of the ?environmentalism of the poor? where people fight to preserve the natural resource base that is crucial for their survival.
Nevertheless, red and green concerns or trade unions and environmental movements are more often than not opposed to each other. Although environmental protection might save the basis for jobs (for example in fishing, forestry, agriculture, and nature-based tourism), struggles against extractivist projects involve a threat to existing jobs.
My case study on the social-ecological conflicts around the salmon farming industry in Southern Chile addresses such contradictory moments within social mobilizations. Although the nature of the conflicts suggests common problems, the social movement coalition experienced fragmentation. Based on concepts of social movement theory (political opportunity structures) and the power resources approach and field research, I will explore the different logics, interests and strategies of social movement actors, political institutions and corporations with the aim of getting closer to an explanation for the weakening of a vocal movement.