'Civilizing' Resource Investments and Extractivism

Attempts to `civilize' the exploitation of natural and mineral resources are globally promoted. The body of rules and regulations -often the outcome of prolonged socio-environmental and political struggles- is impressive. However, the outcomes of their implementation are much less convincing. The chapters in this book show how international law is curtailing national and local regulation, while existing legislation is often watered-down, circumvented or reinterpreted with severe environmental, health and socio-economic impacts, particularly in the `global south'.

Wolfram Laube is senior researcher at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany.

Aline Rose Barbosa Pereira is senior researcher at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany.