New Books in Sociology Lian Sinclair, "Undermining Resistance: The Governance of Participation by Multinational Mining Corporations" (Manchester UP, 2024)
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May 5, 2025 Lian Sinclair, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sydney, discusses the complex role of multinational mining companies in undermining local resistance. She explores how participatory strategies are deployed to reshape community dynamics in Indonesia. Sinclair reveals the tensions between corporate social responsibility and genuine community empowerment. The conversation highlights the shift towards critical minerals and the challenges faced by communities as they navigate their rights amidst corporate influence. It's a fascinating look at power, protest, and the politics of extraction.
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Mining's Capitalism Tension
- Mining sharpens the tension in global capitalism between wealth creation and the uneven harms caused locally.
- Land grabbing disrupts communities' social relations, forcing adaptations or resistance to mining impacts.
Multinationals as Governance Actors
- Multinational mining corporations emerged as governance actors to maintain legitimacy amid overlapping crises from conflicts and global protests.
- They formed global initiatives and standards to manage reputation, costs, and risks of stricter regulations.
Indonesia's Mining Ownership Shift
- Indonesia's mining sector saw shifts from multinational to domestic control influenced by resource nationalism post-2014.
- Export tariffs and ownership divestment policies aimed to develop local downstream industries and capture more value.