Nationalization of extractive industries

Coordinator: Prof. dr. S.M. Murshed
Consortium partners: Murshed (ISS, NL); Gruenberger (Lidema, Ecuador); Mena (Universidad San Francisco de Quito /University of North Carolina, Ecuador/USA); van der Schoot (HIVOS, NL)

Project goal:

Establishing the effects of nationalisation and the best management of natural extractive resources in Bolivia and Ecuador.

Introduction:

Nationalisation has had a profound effect on the oil, gas and mining industries in Bolivia and Ecuador. In particular, it has led to tensions between those entitled to exploit these extractive resources, and the remainder of the population. The underlying reasons include sharp social and power divides between the ruling classes and the other classes, and misappropriation or misallocation of revenues. This project aims to redress the balance by establishing how best to manage such resources to the benefit of the majority of the indigenous people of each country.

Project description:

To investigate these issues, we have identified three key areas to study. The first of these is the political economy, and natural resource rents in particular. Second is the sustainable use of natural resources, including how best – or even whether – to extract these. And thirdly, we will be looking at conflict and co-operation between stakeholders, including the local and national population. Our methods include participation and training activities in order to give traditionally disenfranchised communities a more informed and effective voice.

This project, which runs from 2010 to 2015, began with a series of workshops in Ecuador, Bolivia and the Netherlands to ensure maximum participation and involvement of key stakeholders. A reception meeting will take place in January 2011 to identify the case studies to be used.