Distribution without representation? Beyond the rights of nature in the southern ecuadorian highlands

Abstract

Despite the fact that Ecuador has arguably the most biocentric constitution in the world, deepening national investment in extractive development projects has left communities on the frontlines of these projects desperate for greater participation in decision-making processes currently monopolized by centralized ministries. The result has been a flourishing over the past two years of sub-national judicial and non-judicial challenges to strategic mining projects. Integral to these challenges is the constitutional language of rights for nature (Articles 71-4). Drawing on ethnographic research around the Río Blanco gold and silver mine in the southern highland province of Azuay, this article ex..