From Natural Resource to Nation Building: Geopolitical Analysis of the Lithium Exploitation Project of Uyuni Salar, in Bolivia
Sérandour, Audrey
From Natural Resource to Nation Building: Geopolitical Analysis of the Lithium Exploitation Project of Uyuni Salar, in Bolivia - 2017.
51
Bolivia holds one of the most important deposits of lithium in the world. In a global context of increased demand of this alkaline metal – particularly used in making batterie – the country arouses keen interest. However, the Bolivian government decided not to cave in to the offers of foreign companies and to exploit itself its natural resources. Since 2008, a government corporation manages the lithium exploitation project of Uyuni salar, but the results are slow to appear. Nevertheless, in a country familiar with social movements, no significant protest arose. On the contrary, there is a real consensus around the project. A month of investigation in Bolivia helped us to understand how the Bolivian leaders made this natural resource a source of national pride, in spite of the difficulties met on the ground. In this article, the Authors adopt a geopolitical and multi-scalar analysis, to approach the lithium project through its connection with the territory and its inhabitants.
From Natural Resource to Nation Building: Geopolitical Analysis of the Lithium Exploitation Project of Uyuni Salar, in Bolivia - 2017.
51
Bolivia holds one of the most important deposits of lithium in the world. In a global context of increased demand of this alkaline metal – particularly used in making batterie – the country arouses keen interest. However, the Bolivian government decided not to cave in to the offers of foreign companies and to exploit itself its natural resources. Since 2008, a government corporation manages the lithium exploitation project of Uyuni salar, but the results are slow to appear. Nevertheless, in a country familiar with social movements, no significant protest arose. On the contrary, there is a real consensus around the project. A month of investigation in Bolivia helped us to understand how the Bolivian leaders made this natural resource a source of national pride, in spite of the difficulties met on the ground. In this article, the Authors adopt a geopolitical and multi-scalar analysis, to approach the lithium project through its connection with the territory and its inhabitants.
Réseaux sociaux