Theorizing collective action in sociambiental conflicts in Peru: the case of “Tia Maria” (2009-2011)

Abstract

This article examines the mobilizations of the peasants of Tambo's valley in Peru, against the implementation of a great mine of extraction of copper to open quarry, between the years 2009 and 2011. Using this case of peasant mobilization, authors test the analytical value of several theoretic frames for the analysis of the collective action in socioenvironmental conflicts: the structural tension model; the resource mobilization model; the political process model; and the model of threat and opportunity. The article explores the constraints and advantages of the several theoretical frames, and finds that the model of threat and opportunity offers analytical advantages to understand the peasant mobilizations in Peru, and offer bigger adaptability and flexibility for their analysis.