Leadership in local mobilization against goldmining: The cases of Artvin and Esme, Turkey

Abstract

The role of leadership has remained as one of the most understudied factors in the literature on community resistance to extractive industry projects. This study helps to bridge this gap through analysis of local mobilizations against gold mining in Turkey during the period 1995 2010, drawing mainly on in-depth field research conducted in the localities of Artvin and Esme. Building on conceptual insights presented by social movement scholars, it captures how leadership plays a critical role in local mobilization against mining projects by providing discursive frames, connecting locals to broader activist networks, and coordinating collective actions. The paper also extends insights on leadership by showing that leaders risk impeding local mobilization against extractive industry projects by prioritizing particular ideological commitments and identities, adopting reactive strategies, or focusing on a particular aspect of mining as the locus of resistance. It implies that the sustenance of local mobilization can be accounted for by the stability, collectivity, inclusivity, and proactiveness of leadership.