Competing pathways to sustainability? Exploring conflicts over mine establishments in the Swedish mountain region

Sammanfattning

Natural resource (NR) exploitation often gives rise to conflict. While most actors intend to manage collectively used places and their NRs sustainably, they may disagree about what this entails. This article accordingly explores the origin of NR conflicts by analysing them in terms of competing pathways to sustainability. By comparing conflicts over mine establishments in three places in northern Sweden, we specifically explore the role of place-based perceptions and experiences.The results indicate that the investigated conflicts go far beyond the question of metals and mines. The differences between pathways supporting mine establishment and those opposing it refer to fundamental ideas about human nature relationships and sustainable development (SD). The study suggests that place-related parameters affect local interpretations of SD and mobilisation in ways that explain why resistance and conflict exist in some places but not others. A broader understanding of a particular conflict and its specific place-based trajectory may help uncover complex underlying reasons. However, our comparative analysis also demonstrates that mining conflicts in different places share certain characteristics. Consequently, a site-specific focus ought to be combined with attempts to compare, or map, conflicts at a larger scale to improve our understanding of when and how conflicts evolve. By addressing the underlying causes and origins of contestation, this study generates knowledge needed to address NR management conflicts effectively and legitimately. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nyckelord

Natural resource management; Mining conflicts; Pathways to sustainability; Place perceptions; Frame analysis; Interpretive policy analysis

Publicerad i

Journal of Environmental Management
2018, volym: 218, sidor: 402-415

SLU författare

• Johansson, Andreas

  • Luleå Tekniska Universitet

UKÄ forskningsämne

Tvärvetenskapliga studier
Miljövetenskap
Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.063

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/131185