Large-scale mining strengthens local economies but also increases inequality, tensions and risks, according to research by development anthropologist Beatrice Gibertini. Her central message: “Ensure that local communities are structurally involved in decisions on how mining is carried out, if at all, because economic growth alone is not enough.”
Gibertini’s research centres on the question of whether large-scale mining can support sustainable development. “With rising global demand for minerals, mining offers African countries opportunities, yet it also brings serious social, health and environmental challenges,” she says.
Economic benefits
The research shows that mining can create economic benefits, such as more jobs and new business activity. At the same time, mineral booms attract newcomers to mining areas, increasing tensions. “Though the majority of the newcomers come from areas nearby, the influx of people can heighten the risk of conflict,” Gibertini writes.
Barriers
According to Gibertini, the impact on women is particularly striking. “Women living near mines tend to become more politically active, partly because some find part-time work in mining-related activities. Yet barriers remain. In South Africa, Black working-class women find creative ways to support themselves and their families despite difficult living conditions.”
Local people
The study concludes that mining stimulates local growth but also deepens inequality and risk. Gibertini therefore argues that governments, companies and civil society organisations must involve local people in decisions about how mining is carried out. Economic growth is not enough without attention to well-being and safety.
By combining large-scale data analysis with fieldwork in South African mining communities, Gibertini’s research offers both a broad overview and the lived experiences of those directly affected.