Microconflictos ambientales y crisis de gobernabilidad en la Amazonía ecuatoriana

Abstract

This paper analizes the relationship between oilspills and ecological conflicts in the northern Amazon of Ecuador. The central idea is that conflict management by the state-owned oil com-pany, Petroecuador, can lead to " efficient " negotiations in the short term, at the cost of a long-term perspective, that seeks the institutionalization of agreements and an effective treatment of the structural causes of environmental conflicts. This context is determined by an inadequate environmental management in the Northern Amazon and constitutes the background of wi-der protracted conflicts, in the Central and Southern parts of the region. Especially, the resul-ting tense social relationships are actually worsened by the mediatization of the Chevron-Texa-co trial. As a matter of fact, it will probably remain the framework for oil policies. Without a redefinition of public policies -especially a responsible and equitative environmental and social policies– this could lead to a crisis of democratic governability.