Exemplifying accumulation by dispossession: mining and indigenous peoples in the philippines

Abstract

Using a case study from the Philippines, this article applies David Harvey's theory of accumulation by dispossession to show how neoliberal policies enable mining corporations to locate, lay claim to, and develop mineral resources in formerly inaccessible areas, which for centuries have provided safe haven for indigenous peoples and their cultures. It explains why these factors are leading to an increase in armed conflict between military forces and guerrilla groups, which recruit their members from displaced indigenous people. The article concludes that the theory of accumulation by dispossession offers an appropriate analytical tool for understanding these processes.

Land and ‘space’ for regulating artisanal mining in Cambodia: Visualizing an environmental governance conundrum in contested territory

“…The suppression of indigenous production modes is also discussed by Holden et al (2011) in reference to the influences of capital-intensive large-scale mining in the Philippines. Holden et al (2011) outline environmental problem associated with large-scale mining, in the form of tailings and the danger of major spills, noting that large-scale mining poses severe dangers to both biophysical and social environments, highlighting "the inconsistency between the law promoting mining, the Mining Act, and the law codifying the rights of indigenous peoples" (Holden et al, 2011, p.152).…”

“…Holden et al (2011) outline environmental problem associated with large-scale mining, in the form of tailings and the danger of major spills, noting that large-scale mining poses severe dangers to both biophysical and social environments, highlighting "the inconsistency between the law promoting mining, the Mining Act, and the law codifying the rights of indigenous peoples" (Holden et al, 2011, p.152). In Cambodia, the inconsistency between the Minamata Convention requirements and existing national mining strategy illustrates a "new" source of debate in extractive sector governance: the "environmental" rationale behind the "formalization" clause (i.e.…”

“…The expansion of the mining sector globally is the subject of growing debate, with considerable attention devoted to power dynamics in governing and contesting large-scale mining in Asia (Bedi, 2013;Holden et al, 2011;Hatcher, 2013;Hatcher, 2015;Oskarsson, 2013). However, little literature in Asia has focused on power dynamics in regulating and representing artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), a segment of the mineral economy that presents complex and often very different -yet relatedsocioeconomic and environmental challenges Verbrugge and Besmanos, 2016).…”

Sustainability reporting on large-scale mining conflicts: the case of Bajo de la Alumbrera, Argentina

“…Research on mining community conflicts is often biased towards community-level perspectives (e.g. Hilson and Yakovleva, 2007;Holden et al, 2011;Kemp et al, 2011;Yakovleva and Vazquez-Brust, 2012) whereas only a reduced number of studies also document management perspectives on conflicts exposing the arguments of contending parties (Bebbington and Bury, 2009;Garvin et al, 2009) or seeking to discover reporting gaps between disclosure and performance (Adams, 2004 Critical studies on the current mining model in Argentina focus on environmental, economic and ethical concerns, referring to extractivism as a 'loot', emphasising the resistance of local grassroots movements with thick descriptions of the socio-environmental conflicts and discourse analyses (Galafassi, 2008;Robledo and Lumerman, 2009;Rodríguez Pardo, 2009;Solanas, 2007;Svampa and Antonelli, 2009;Walter, 2008). Rather than focussing on mining-related disputes, others stress the positive contributions of mining to economies and society (Jordán et al, 2004;; Secretaría de Minería de la Nación, 2012).…”

Dispossession, exploitation or employment? Youth livelihoods and extractive industry investment in Sierra Leone

“…In particular, building on the original tenets of Marxist thought, Harvey's (2003) concepts of 'accumulation by exploitation' and 'accumulation by dispossession' have been employed by a number of critical scholars concerned with the extractive industries and development, to broaden understanding of the uneven nature of global capitalism and its unequal benefits in poor countries in the global south (Holden et al, 2011;Bebbington et al, 2008). While the first form of accumulation has historically been concerned with labour exploitation and unequal relations of production, the second has addressed the appropriation of key livelihood resources, such as land, minerals and water.…”