Evolving Property Structures of Minerals: Reflections on How to Theorize Nationalization in Bolivia and Ecuador

This introductory chapter to a volume on natural resource conflicts in the Global South argues against the use of general causal theories due to the diversity of conflict and cooperation dynamics. Instead, the authors advocate for the application of 'middle-range theory' to analyze conflicts, which often involve rural populations struggling to maintain access to essential resources.

• Conflicts over natural resources in the Global South frequently involve poor, primarily rural populations who are fighting to keep access to resources necessary for their livelihoods.
• The authors contend that general causal theories are problematic for explaining natural resource conflicts because of the diverse dynamics of cooperation and conflict.
• Rather than seeking grand explanations, the volume aims to employ what Merton (1949) described as 'middle-range theory'.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Evolving Property Structures of Minerals: Reflections on How to Theorize Nationalization in Bolivia and Ecuador. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/evolving-property-structures-of-minerals-reflections-on-how-to-theorize-nationalization-in-bolivia-and-ecuador-book-chapter/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Evolving Property Structures of Minerals: Reflections on How to Theorize Nationalization in Bolivia and Ecuador. 2025. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/evolving-property-structures-of-minerals-reflections-on-how-to-theorize-nationalization-in-bolivia-and-ecuador-book-chapter/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Evolving Property Structures of Minerals: Reflections on How to Theorize Nationalization in Bolivia and Ecuador |date=15 January 2025 |url=https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/evolving-property-structures-of-minerals-reflections-on-how-to-theorize-nationalization-in-bolivia-and-ecuador-book-chapter/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025evolving, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Evolving Property Structures of Minerals: Reflections on How to Theorize Nationalization in Bolivia and Ecuador}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/evolving-property-structures-of-minerals-reflections-on-how-to-theorize-nationalization-in-bolivia-and-ecuador-book-chapter/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }