Global Minerals & Local Communities

About the Project

Experience over the last five decades suggests that mining contributions to economic development varies greatly across countries. In some, it has been a major engine of development, while in others disputes have erupted over land use, property rights, environmental damage, and revenue sharing. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs implemented through health, economic development, education and training projects, are increasingly relied upon to manage company-community relations. Yet conflicts persist in many settings, with significant costs for companies and communities. This research will help clarify the characteristics of decision-making processes that enable meaningful and constructive engagement of different stakeholders. They will contribute towards developing the practical wisdom, collective understanding, common sense, and prudence required for the mining sector and community partners to realize the economic potential and social and environmental responsibilities of non–renewable resource development.

Research Objectives

The goal of the proposed research project is to help shift the debate from arguing for or against mining, towards understanding the complex forces – environmental, cultural, economic, social, political, and historical – that influence the quality of mining company-community relationship to establish a profile of corporate, policy and community responses that maximize the economic, social and environmental benefits and minimize the negative impacts of mining.

This project is funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada Insight Grant