Abstract
In Latin America social actors and local politicians increasingly apply popular consultations in conflicts over mining as a means of protest. Since 2002 91 so called consultas populares have been taken place. The Working Paper at hand examines under what conditions procedures of direct democracy become a means of protest against mining, and with what political effects. The analysis builds on own research in Colombia and existing case studies. It shows, that the occurrence of popular consultations as a means of protest results from the interplay between long-term changes in political-institutional structures (institutionalization of political rights and forms of direct participation), short-term changes in political opportunities (change of local government, passing of a new law, new alliances), as well as direct and indirect mechanisms of diffusion. Political effects of consultas are changes in the design and timetable of mining projects. Furthermore consultas have an effect on mobilization, awareness raising, political agenda setting, and on structural context conditions such as the power relations between the national and local governments or social participation in mining issues.
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