Involuntary resettlement: Policy and practices in the Andes

Abstract

In recent decades, international policies have been developed to guide processes of involuntary resettlement in order to guarantee social reconstruction and improvements in the living standards of resettled communities; however, Andean experiences show us that, in general, these objectives have not been achieved. How to adjust the design of global involuntary resettlement policies for better implementation in the Andes? This article, following Place-Based Development perspectives, argues that the policies of involuntary resettlement have not adapted adequately to the Andean context and culture, generating bad cultural interpretations and conflicts that in turn have prevented its fulfillment. The article analyzes the relocation process carried out by the mining company Antamina in the Peruvian community of Yanacancha.