Political ecology of mining: the linkage between resource governance and environmental injustice

With the increasing global demand for minerals and metals, environmental and social harms caused by extractive industries will worsen unless the sector is paid careful attention to. Resource-use decisions are shaped by political economy forces that often lead to degradation of the local environment. The sector has also threatened the survival of marginalised communities and indigenous peoples, whose lands and habitats are often seized and altered for mining activities. Environmental defenders and activists are even being killed, with the cases often left unsolved. All these issues are severe and are linked to the political economy of resource extraction. The present research will look at the linkage between natural resource governance and environmental injustice in Myanmar in the civil war context. Canada is a leading country in the mining industry, not only within its own borders but also overseas. As such, it is crucial for Canada to gain insights into mining practices occurring elsewhere. This research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on mining-related issues and provide Canadian researchers and policymakers with valuable insights into the complexities of resource extraction in developing countries.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dominique Caouette

Student:

Partner:

Université de Lausanne

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: