Peace with Hunger: Colombia’s Checkered Experience with Post-Conflict Sustainable Community Development in Emerald-Mining Regions

Abstract

Abstract:The interactions between conflict and local development has puzzled scholars and practitioners alike. This article explores why the advent of peace in Colombia's emerald-mining regions for the past few years, as well as a broader national peace process, has not delivered the expected development dividends among mining communities. We contrast differences in stakeholders' perceptions between levels of governance (local, regional and national). Based on the research, we conclude that while stakeholder collaboration is successful at the regional and national levels of governance, it fails at the local level. While peace has allowed an increase in mainstream business investment in mining, this has concentrated production in a few hands leading to a deterioration in many aspects of community livelihoods and wealth distribution. There has been a shift in the concentration of wealth and production from traditional elites to large companies. Communities noted a loss of collective assets and lack of community and institutional capacity to overcome pressing issues in a post-conflict market economy that favors those who control capital and technology. Based on an evaluation of community perceptions through a focus group methodology, this study recommends ways to prepare and better coordinate stakeholders to engage with complex relationships, and protect community assets in a collaborative governance scenario. This research suggests that political reconciliation processes amid complex resource geographies require greater devolution and community engagement on post-conflict economic development during the peace process itself.

The Status of the Local Community in Mining Sustainable Development beyond the Triple Bottom Line

“…The case study of the brownfields in Karvina, Czech Republic found that awareness about problems connected to brownfields is quite limited [18]. A study conducted in Colombia recommended the preparation and better coordination of stakeholders in order to engage complex relationships and protect community assets in a collaborative governance scenario [19]. The policy of selected leaders in the mining industry in Poland is an example of promoting good practices within the corporate responsibility of enterprises.…”

Decentralized governments: local empowerment and sustainable development challenges in Africa

“…Natural resource benefits continue to accrue to a "few hands, leading to a deterioration in many aspects of community livelihoods and wealth distribution" (Franco and Ali 2016). In addition, as in the two case studies in this study, there is a trend of the shift of wealth from local people to local elites and from local elites to multinational corporations in many resource-rich regions (Franco et al 2018). These circumstances would require a real paradigm shift in the governance processes and the decentralization framework to contain local power brokers and level the playing field for all stakeholders.…”

“…Local governments are expected to balance the preferences of local communities with national goals and provide those communities with greater influence in decision-making, but this has not occurred in most places (Franco et al 2018). Decentralization outcomes may often appear successful as perceived from a top-down lens in government but not at local levels (Franco et al 2018). Natural resource benefits continue to accrue to a "few hands, leading to a deterioration in many aspects of community livelihoods and wealth distribution" (Franco and Ali 2016).…”

The Sustainability of Post-Conflict Development: The Case of Algeria

“…Since the extensive public security expenditure also affects employment and other economic sectors, any demilitarisation processes would need to be coupled with alternative opportunities for employment and income. Unemployment reduces the opportunity costs of starting a conflict [21], and the lack of employment opportunities can exacerbate the community situation and maintain any conflict [41], both conditions which are relevant to the Algerian case.…”

“…Additionally, there was a slight increase in oil and natural gas production after the civil war (Figures 7 and 8). Unemployment reduces the opportunity costs of starting a conflict [21], and the lack of employment opportunities can exacerbate the community situation and maintain any conflict [41], both conditions which are relevant to the Algerian case.…”