Public opposition or social protest against investment projects in Chile and Colombia

Abstract

Public opposition is both an individual and collective right that allows for free expression, becoming a fundamental component of the sustainability of democracy. Likewise, public opposition is considered an elemental factor in democratic collectives. Thus, its importance is expressed in undertaking actions to limit what is termed "current governments." In turn, they represent the most effective alternative for forming new governments. In this regard, the aim was to describe public opposition, its drivers, and the main manifestation against mining-energy projects in Chile and Colombia. For this purpose, a mixed study was conducted with a predominance in the qualitative aspect, where documentary review was the main technique used as a methodological resource. The analysis of 24 projects is evident, 9 in Chile and 15 in Colombia, identifying 18 forms of public manifestation, with strikes being the most representative. Likewise, it is shown how the drivers that generate conflicts in energy projects in Chile and Colombia are grouped into components such as governance and environmental. Finally, strategies to mitigate and compensate for the impact caused by public opposition to investment projects are presented.