The moral economy of defence of territory and the political economy of extractivism in the Polochic valley, Guatemala

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AbstractSince the turn of the 21st century, sugarcane, oil palm, and nickel mining have transformed the Polochic valley lowlands in northeastern Guatemala. These industries have been met with different forms of resistance from local indigenous Q'eqchi' agrarian communities operating under the banner of “defence of territory” (DOT). In this paper, I argue that the concept of moral economy can help understand why the arrival of different (agro)extractive industries were met with different levels of resistance by Q'eqchi' communities. The key elements of the local moral economy that informs DOT in the Polochic lowlands are customary territorial practices, paternalistic class relationships, and rising livelihood expectations. The degree to which this moral economy was violated by different industries helps explain variegated responses and outcomes, particularly why sugarcane company Chabil Utzaj was met with widespread and sustained resistance that ultimately led to its decision to cease operations. This moral economy was itself shaped by previous cycles of agrarian change and continues to shape present‐day political contestation.