A vote to derail extraction: popular consultation and resource sovereignty in Tolima, Colombia. Issue 5 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McNeish, John-Andrew
• Is Part Of: Third world quarterly. Volume 38:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 1128
• Page End: 1145
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Colombia -- mining -- extraction -- popular referenda -- sovereignty; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 909.09724
• DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2017.1283980
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-6597

Abstract

Abstract: In July 2013, a consulta popular (referendum) was organised by municipal authorities in Tolima, Colombia, to judge public opinion on the establishment of activities by an international mining conglomerate ie the Colosa (the Giant) gold mine. In this article study is made of the referendum, and emphasis given to its linkages with wider regional, national and Latin American efforts to anticipate damage and derail projects for resource extraction. Recognising the techniques and networks, and similar expressions of identity and territoriality, expressed in other campaigns against extraction, resource sovereignty is suggested as an approach to interpret the motivations for and dynamics of recent popular consultations.