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The Enduring State: An analysis of governance-making in three mining conflicts
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This article investigates the profound ambiguity of the state in the organization of contemporary business–society relations. On the one hand, there has been a decisive shift from government to governance, encouraging private actors, such as corporations, communities and NGOs, to address social and environmental concerns themselves, i.e. without the state’s involvement. On the other hand, however, the continued importance and relevance of the organized state is difficult to ignore. In this article we examine the role of the state in three cases of mining conflicts in Chile, one of the world’s most important mining countries. Through longitudinal, qualitative research of conflictive mining governance relations between state organizations, large corporations and local communities, we show that the modes of influence conducted by the Chilean state oscillate between direct, central steering (‘cathedral’) and indirect, dispersed vouching (‘bazaar’). Elaborating on Foucault’s concept of governmentality, we offer a hybrid theory of state organization, where the dematerialization of the state’s responsibility is seen not as the norm but rather as a particular mode of governance that sits alongside the underestimated, yet enduring, material involvement of the state.
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... Para as mineradoras, importa produzir mercadorias e transformar os espaços onde os ditos recursos naturais se encontram em territórios produtivos. Nesse cenário, cabe a um conjunto de atores sociais (população local, movimentos sociais, etc.) se mobilizar, em relação assimétrica de forças, e buscar meios de resguardar seus direitos ou tentar negociar o exercício de alguma regulação sobre a forma como as mineradoras operam nos espaços em que habitam ou um dia habitaram (Maher;Valenzuela;Böhm, 2019). ...
... Para as mineradoras, importa produzir mercadorias e transformar os espaços onde os ditos recursos naturais se encontram em territórios produtivos. Nesse cenário, cabe a um conjunto de atores sociais (população local, movimentos sociais, etc.) se mobilizar, em relação assimétrica de forças, e buscar meios de resguardar seus direitos ou tentar negociar o exercício de alguma regulação sobre a forma como as mineradoras operam nos espaços em que habitam ou um dia habitaram (Maher;Valenzuela;Böhm, 2019). ...
... Para as mineradoras, importa produzir mercadorias e transformar os espaços onde os ditos recursos naturais se encontram em territórios produtivos. Nesse cenário, cabe a um conjunto de atores sociais (população local, movimentos sociais, etc.) se mobilizar, em relação assimétrica de forças, e buscar meios de resguardar seus direitos ou tentar negociar o exercício de alguma regulação sobre a forma como as mineradoras operam nos espaços em que habitam ou um dia habitaram (Maher;Valenzuela;Böhm, 2019). ...
As graves consequências de perturbações humanas em paisagens multiespécies, evidenciadas por rompimentos de barragens de rejeitos de mineração, a exemplo do colapso da barragem de Fundão, ocorrido em novembro de 2015 no município de Mariana/MG, permitem lançar luz sobre práticas organizativas para manter a vida possível em espaços onde ocorrem e se perpetuam ao longo do tempo. Os estudos que analisam a formação de espaços e práticas de organização e reorganização de espaços em contexto pós-desastre costumam centralizar os debates na agência humana. Neste sentido, este ensaio dialoga com a produção científica que discute espacialidades organizacionais a partir da necessidade de lançar luz sobre uma abordagem inovadora na Administração, por meio da qual a análise dos espaços considera relações mais que humanas, contribuindo para preenchimento de lacunas identificadas em abordagens distintas desta que concebem os espaços como dados, externos aos sujeitos, produções humanas. Questiona-se aqui: Como uma perspectiva multiespécies pode servir como ferramenta central para estudos que buscam aprofundamento da compreensão de práticas que organizam espaços na indústria mineradora? Nesta direção, o objetivo deste ensaio teórico consiste em buscar melhor compreender o potencial dessa ferramenta analítica (perspectiva multiespécies) para analisar práticas desta indústria e de outras que apresentam modos de produção e consumo guiados por lógicas similares. Direciona-se a análise para uma perspectiva processual e performativa dos espaços, compreendendo-os em transformação a partir de relações entre humanos e outros modos de existência. Entende-se a espacialidade como praticada continuamente a partir de emaranhados de práticas de organizar multiespécies de espaços.
... In the extractive sector, mining is a large industrial player with enormous influence on the future of sustainability, ecosystems, and people (Bezzola et al., 2022). The concern with the environmental effects of mining and its social dimensions has made CSR standards a priority for this industry (Maher et al., 2019). Indeed this change is demonstrated by recent Global Data research suggesting that more than 140 mining companies globally are progressing toward netzero emission reduction objectives, with an agenda for decarbonizing too (Zharfpeykan & Akroyd, 2023). ...
... By integrating issues from both corporate governance and CSR, it is possible for researchers to gain a better understanding of the impact of governance processes on social effects (Dorobantu & Odziemkowska, 2017). Moreover, research into the role of corporate ownership in shaping CSR practices can provide insight on how different types of ownership may influence social outcomes for mining operations (Maher et al., 2019). In addition to this, This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. ...
... Relatedly, Campbell (2012) highlighted the shortcomings of CSR strategies, which, in an effort to respond to the problems of risk and legitimacy faced by mining companies, enact measures that do not address the origins that give rise to such problems and, thus, tend to mask the very nature of the problems at hand. Thus, many mining projects (especially in Latin America and India) continue to face community resistance/opposition (Banerjee, 2011(Banerjee, , 2000Maher, 2019;Maher, Valenzuela, & Böhm, 2019), in most cases after the companies have implemented or promised to implement large CSR programs (Banerjee et al., 2023). ...
Purpose - While the practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the mining sector is far from a new occurrence, far less common is an examination of the CSR-related activities of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) firms. Drawing on Carroll (1991) four-part model of CSR as a lens, this paper aims to explore the discursive construction of some socioenvironmentally oriented activities of a small-scale mining operator to extend our understanding of CSR in practice.
Design/methodology/approach - This study employs a qualitative research design involving semistructured interviews with the management and staff of a small-scale mining company located in the Eastern region of Ghana.
Findings - The findings suggest small-scale mining operators, contrary to the dominant narrative of being inattentive to CSR concerns, could strategically leverage salient environmental management practices and novel worker safety procedures to make them unanticipated champions of CSR.
Originality/value - The study extends our understanding of how salient organizing practices of small-scale mining firms may cohere to give shape and form to the practice of CSR in context.
... Empirically, it is clear that mining management in Indonesia tends to benefit large capital holders. Government organizations (Maher et al., 2019) are often used as a tool of legitimacy for the benefit of capital owners, which is an anomaly in a state-centric approach. Normatively, existing regulations aim to maximize benefits for the community through the orientation of meeting domestic needs and improving people's welfare. ...
This study aims to identify weaknesses in the oversight of excavation C mining activities by the East Kutai Regency Government, which contribute to soil degradation and alterations to natural landscapes. These mining operations result in large, water-filled pits that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and disease, while also causing air pollution during the dry season. The research employs a qualitative approach, combining a literature review with interviews. The findings reveal that, first, excavation C mining disrupts ecosystem balance through the overexploitation of natural resources and fosters illegal mining activities. Second, challenges in monitoring excavation C mining involve the Satpol PP (Civil Service Police Unit) as the primary enforcement body, along with the enforcement of local regulations designed to minimize environmental damage. However, a lack of coordination between the East Kutai Regency Satpol PP and the East Kalimantan Provincial Police complicates regulatory enforcement and community protection efforts. This study recommends implementing strict sanctions against companies that illegally damage the environment to improve oversight effectiveness and promote environmental sustainability.
... With their focus on examining "the extent to which CSR has managed to assuage the disaffection of the local community" (Abuya, 2016, p. 1) and "contribute[s] to peace" (McKenna, 2015, p. 14), these studies overlook the contentious nature of corporate behaviour: companies do much more than 'assuage disaffection' as they also implement strategies to realize their own claims to land (or other benefits) and to counter claims of communities. While some studies are highly critical of CSR policies as a 'smokescreen' (Banerjee, 2014) and highlight their limited implementation (Graafland & Smid, 2019), a common feature is that these studies rather abstractly focus on contemporary CSR discourses (Banerjee, 2008) or new governance arrangements and state roles (Banerjee, 2014;Maher et al. 2019), with very little attention to the actual conflict behaviour of companies on the ground. ...
In 2017, Petter Gottschalk introduced the concept of convenience as a fundamental framework for understanding white-collar and corporate crime. Since then, this theory has evolved significantly, expanding to include fourteen distinct research propositions that explore the notion of crime convenience through three key dimensions: motive, opportunity, and willingness (Gottschalk, 2017, 2022; Gottschalk & Hamerton, 2024a, 2024b). This chapter delves into the development of the theory and examines its various components in detail, providing a comprehensive theoretical and conceptual foundation. By articulating how convenience intersects with the motivations of offenders, the opportunities they encounter, and their willingness to engage in criminal behavior, the chapter sets the stage for a deeper understanding of white-collar crime within criminology and criminal justice. Furthermore, the theory’s core elements, particularly those relating to trust and primary motivations, are subjected to empirical testing through comparative fieldwork conducted in diverse contexts across the United States, Norway, India, Iran, and Malaysia. This empirical approach aims to validate the theoretical propositions and reveal the nuances of how convenience influences criminal behavior in different cultural and economic settings. Through this rigorous analysis, the chapter seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on corporate crime and inform future research in this critical area.
Many countries have established dedicated national authorities to investigate and prosecute serious and complex white-collar and corporate crime. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the research literature concerning the external challenges and barriers faced by national agencies in Norway (Økokrim), New Zealand (Serious Fraud Office, SFO), the UK (SFO), and the Netherlands (Openbaar Ministerie, OSF). The policing study presented in this chapter is critical, as it highlights the dilemmas that governments must confront when assessing public trust in their national fraud offices and economic crime authorities. For instance, Økokrim in Norway appears hesitant to prosecute cases deemed too complex, which raises questions about its effectiveness and the public’s perception of its capabilities. In contrast, the SFO in New Zealand actively works to prevent the deinstitutionalization of economic crime investigations, striving to maintain a robust framework for tackling fraud. Meanwhile, the SFO in the UK may exert deterrent effects through its enforcement activities, potentially influencing corporate behavior across the country. Conversely, the OSF in the Netherlands faces significant challenges from the private sector, particularly from corporate investigators who operate independently, complicating the landscape of corporate crime investigations.
Waste is an important socio‐ecological challenge of contemporary capitalism, contributing to climate change and environmental degradation. Despite its pervasiveness and its impacts on diverse stakeholders, it yet remains largely underexplored in management and organization studies. Addressing this gap, this paper investigates waste's crucial role in shaping specific stakeholder relations by theorizing it as a technique of power. By examining the case of a socio‐ecological crisis in Naples, Italy, characterized by illegal waste practices linked to Mafia organizations, we unpack two entangled techniques of power: commodifying waste – transforming it into something that can be traded on a market and perpetuating its exploitation; and ignoring waste – involving failing or refusing to consider and recognize waste. Our findings elucidate how these two techniques produced and reinforced socio‐ecological hierarchies, in which local stakeholders were wasted. By highlighting the lived experiences of local communities affected by waste, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of power dynamics among diverse stakeholders in socio‐ecological crises and demonstrates how waste functions as a mechanism of dispossession within capitalist accumulation.
Our understanding of how public actors directly influence stakeholder engagement through mechanisms such as regulation and licensing has been steadily improving. However, the indirect influence of public governance measures on stakeholder engagement remains less explored. This article seeks to bridge this gap by examining how public sector actors use participatory governance to influence private stakeholder engagement beyond public governance processes. We introduce the concept of silent steering to describe how indirect effects on stakeholder engagement occur. Through an in-depth case study of Finnish mining governance from 1995 to 2020, we uncover how silent steering of private engagement occurs through role-giving, example-giving, and expectation-giving. Through these processes, public actors can exert significant influence over industry- and firm-level private stakeholder engagement processes even when they are not present.
This article provides a historical contextualization of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its political role. CSR, we propose, is one form of business–society interactions reflecting a unique ideological framing. To make that argument, we compare contemporary CSR with two historical ideal-types. We explore in turn paternalism in nineteenth century Europe and managerial trusteeship in early twentieth century US. We outline how the political responsibilities of business were constructed, negotiated, and practiced in both cases. This historical contextualization shows that the frontier between economy and polity has always been blurry and shifting and that firms have played a political role for a very long time. It also allows us to show how the nature, extent, and impact of that political role changed through history and co-evolved in particular with shifts in dominant ideologies. Globalization, in that context, is not the driver of the political role of the firm but a moderating phenomenon contributing significantly to the dynamics of this shift. The comparison between paternalism, trusteeship, and contemporary CSR points to what can be seen as functional equivalents—alternative patterns of business–society interactions that each correspond, historically, to unique and distinct ideological frames. We conclude by drawing implications for future theorizing on (political) CSR and stakeholder democracy.
The rare-earth industry is of strategic importance for China and many 'clean' technologies worldwide. Yet the processes of mining, smelting and separating rare-earth ores are heavily polluting. Using a neo-Gramscian perspective in the context of organization studies, this article analyses the dynamic interactions between government agencies, business and civil society in the development of the environmental governance of China's rare-earth industry over the past 30 years, with a particular focus on China's 'top-down' passive revolution. Making use of rarely granted access to China's biggest rare-earth company, one of the country's key strategic assets, the analysis makes visible the changes of environmental contestations among five different governance actors over what we identify as three environmental governance eras in China. Besides offering unique empirical insights into the organizational processes that constitute the dynamically evolving hegemony of China's rare-earth industry, the article makes three theoretical contributions to the field of organization studies. First, we analyse the changing role of state institutions in a non-Western context, which has been de-emphasized by existing organization scholars. Second, we conceptualize the dynamics of environmental governance in China as a form of top-down 'passive revolution'. Third, we problematize the dual role of Chinese NGOs as both supporting and challenging state power. Overall, we contribute to our understanding of the organization of governance systems in non-Western contexts, which has been neglected in organizational studies.
This article analyses the ethics of how community engagement and dialogue as applied by a mining corporation in Chile led to erosion of the community’s psychological freedom despite being aligned with best practice. This article details how a mining company squeezed the psychological freedom of the community in order to obtain an agreement between the period of 2000 and 2016. The findings focus particularly on a 9-month period between 2015 and 2016 when the company undertook intense community engagement. The article identifies six corporate action phases undertaken which curtailed the community’s psychological freedom as paying off local leaders; challenging via courts of law; co-opting community lawyers; prohibiting a key debate during dialogue; and remaining silent after failing to honour its own self-imposed rule. The findings label the company’s community engagement as contradictory; while it conducted transitional and transformational engagement (in line with best practice) in formal spaces, it also engaged in unethical strategies in the informal spaces of community engagement. The result was overall community consent and an even more fragmented community. This article finds that when it limits the psychological freedom of participants, who are already divided as a group, corporate–community engagement (CCE) can be viewed as ethically problematic. Based on analysis of the literature and an empirical case analysis, this article contributes a test for assessing the ethics of CCE.
In this article, I provide a critical analysis of the politics of corporate social responsibility. I argue that corporate social responsibility is a strategy that enables multinational corporations to exercise power in the global political economy. Using the global extractive industries as a context, I focus on conflicts between communities, the state and multinational corporations that arise owing to the negative social and environmental impacts of mining and extraction. In particular, I analyse the role of political corporate social responsibility and multi-stakeholder initiatives in managing conflicts and argue that these initiatives cannot take into account the needs of vulnerable stakeholders. Power asymmetries between key actors in the political economy can diminish the welfare of communities impacted by extraction. Several governance challenges arise as a result of these power asymmetries and I develop a translocal governance framework from the perspective of vulnerable stakeholders that can enable a more progressive approach to societal governance of multinational corporations.
This book addresses the changing role and responsibilities of large multinational corporations (MNCs) in the global political economy. This cross- and inter-disciplinary work makes innovative connections between current debates and streams of thought, bringing together global justice, human rights, and corporate responsibility. Conceiving of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from this unique perspective, the author takes readers well beyond the limitations of conventional notions, which tend to focus on either beneficence or pure charity. While the call for MNCs' involvement in the solution of global problems has become stronger in recent times, few specifics have been laid down regarding how to hold those institutions accountable in the global arena. This text attempts to work out the normative basis underlying the responsibilities of MNCs—thereby filling a crucial void in the literature and marking a milestone in the CSR debate.
Examines micro-politics of indigenous rural community conflict with dam project in Chile.
Introduces concept of Pragmatic Community Resistance (PCR).
PCR allows for simultaneous resistance and collaboration with the project holder.
PCR is driven by external actors who operate at different scales.
PCR highlights the complexities and heterogeneity within indigenous new ruralities settings.
This second edition of a seminal work includes the original text, first published 30 years ago, alongside two major new chapters. Power, Freedom and Reason assesses the main debates about how to conceptualize and study power, including the influential contributions of Michel Foucault. Power Revisited reconsiders Steven Lukes' own views in light of these debates and of criticisms of his original argument. With a new introduction and bibliographical essay, this book will consolidate its reputation as a classic work and a major reference point within social and political theory.