Conflicts over water in Chile: big capital versus local communities. A comparative analysis of the Huasco

Exploring the concept of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and using participatory social research methodologies, this paper seeks to expose and understand conflicts between water users from two river basins in Chile, that, despite their location in completely different areas (one a desert...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Espacio abierto 2009-10, Vol.18 (4), p.695
Main Authors: Salinas, Robinson Torres, Carmona, Alfredo Garcia
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Subjects:
Hydroelectric power plants
International business enterprises
Management
Oases
Social aspects
Social science research
Water
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Exploring the concept of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and using participatory social research methodologies, this paper seeks to expose and understand conflicts between water users from two river basins in Chile, that, despite their location in completely different areas (one a desert, the other an extreme south-austral zone), have similarities in socio-environmental conflict, since in both cases the existence of mega-projects (one, a mine, the other, a hydroelectric plant) has generated diverse visions of development between the directly affected local communities and the transnational corporations. The paper reflects on these similarities and the socio-environmental struggles they are experiencing, concluding that IWRM is the way to raise awareness and seek solutions to environmental conflicts in the current era of "neoliberal ecocide". Key words: IWRM, river basins, transnational mega-projects, local communities, socio-environmental conflict, Chile. Explorando el concepto de "Gestion Integrada de Recursos Hidricos" (GIRH) y por medio metodologias participativas de investigacion social, este trabajo busca visibilizar y comprender los conflictos entre usuarios del agua de dos cuencas hidrograficas de Chile, que ubicadas en territorios completamente diferentes (uno desierto, el otro extremo sur-Austral) presentan similitudes de conflicto socio-ambiental, ya que en ambos casos la existencia de mega-proyectos (uno minero, el otro hidroelectrico) han generado diversas visiones de desarrollo entre comunidades locales directamente afectadas y las empresas transnacionales. Se reflexiona sobre estas similitudes y las luchas socio-ambientales que las atraviesan, concluyendo que la GIRH es el camino para tomar conciencia y buscar soluciones a los conflictos ambientales en la actual era de "ecocidio neoliberal". Palabras clave: GIRH, cuencas, mega-proyectos transnacionales, comunidades locales, conflicto socio-ambiental, Chile.
ISSN:1315-0006