Unearthing Discontent: Mining Ownership, Extraction, and Socio-environmental Protest in Peru
Mining is a critical pillar of the global economy, yet its operations often produce severe socio-environmental consequences, particularly for communities located near extraction sites. In Latin America—and Peru in particular—mining has been linked to environmental degradation, water scarcity, and social tensions, frequently giving rise to protest. While prior research highlights the role of inequality and grievance in fueling opposition to mining, less is known about how specific characteristics of mining operations shape this relationship. This paper investigates two such factors: the nationality of the mining company and the volume of resource extraction. We ask whether foreign-owned firms are more or less likely to face protest, and whether higher production levels increase the likelihood of unrest. Drawing on detailed monthly district-level protest data as well as environmental and mining firm data from Peru, we find that foreign ownership and extraction intensity significantly increase patterns of collective resistance. These findings support a resource nationalism perspective underlying mining-related conflicts and thus contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving social unrest in resource-rich regions.