Territorial (in)Governance Dimensions in Socioenvironmental Conflicts. An Analysis from Mining in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the socio-environmental conflicts arising from mining activities in Mexico in order to identify the elements of territorial (in)governance that affect their occurrence, thus contributing a better understanding of their triggering factors. Methodology: a systematic and exploratory analysis of conflict’s public narratives was made, based on four proposed dimensions of (in)governance (information asymmetry; disarticulation and management of the regulatory-institutional structure; unsustainability of the use of territorial resources; and disagreements in the access to benefits due to the use of those resources). Results: the most common dimensions of (in)governance are the unsustainability of resources usage and institutional disarticulations. Limitations: the generalization of complex social phenomena (i.e. socio-environmental conflicts) might inevitably blur the specific elements of a social phenomenon. Value: this systematization proposes a new analytical scheme that integrates governance as a defining element in the genesis of socio-environmental conflicts. Conclusions: there is a correlation between certain historical moments with a higher incidence of conflict; the failure of any of the most common dimensions seems to be sufficient to trigger a social conflict, although most conflicts have ruptures all over their four dimensions.