Unraveling a Political Technology: Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in Peruvian Oil and Mining Sectors

Abstract

The worldwide dissemination of the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) has fostered discussions about its significance for removing the social exclusion of indigenous peoples. Most studies address problems in the regulation and implementation of FPIC, but less attention is paid to how the strengths and weaknesses of indigenous organizations and their different political engagements influence FPIC processes and outcomes. Based on the analysis of consultation agreements in the mining and oil sectors in Peru (2011–2022) and the evaluation of two case studies, this article explains how FPIC might be a tool for indigenous politics and state governance.