Governance of Water in Southern Chile: An Analysis of the Process of Indigenous Consultation as a Part of Environmental Impact Assessment

Abstract

The management and organization of water resources shapes complex territorial scenarios. This is seen in south-central Chile, where the construction of hydropower plants in Indigenous territories has strained relations between the state, the Mapuche people and hydropower companies. We analyze the Indigenous consultation process to identify the relations between actors and the role of state institutions to evaluate the extent to which these facilitate collective action. Using a case study methodology and qualitative analysis, we identify challenges to water governance, which relate to the degree of heterogeneity of communities; power inequalities within the consultation process and their influence on structures of decision-making.