Exploring the Emerging Mining Industry in Solomon Islands
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Social impact assessment, social justice and scales of knowledge: exploring the emerging mining industry in Solomon Islands Jillian Clare Ash Bachelor of Social Science Master of Development Practice A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2017 School of Social Science i Abstract This thesis examines power relations in the context of social impact assessment (SIA) as it is applied in the emerging mining industry in Solomon Islands. While the social impacts of large-scale mining in the Global South are well documented, little is known about how and why adverse social impacts continue to occur in the presence of numerous ‘best practice’ policy and planning tools, including SIA. This raises questions on the efficacy of SIA in identifying, contextualising and mitigating potential social impacts on communities affected by mining activity, particularly on traditional lands inhabited by indigenous peoples. This thesis presents a critical analysis of SIA to provide insight on this disparity in policy and practice, and to enhance sociological understanding on the interplay of globally-driven mining projects, the identification of social impacts, and the role of policy and institutions in cross-cultural contexts. The proposed extraction of nickel in Isabel Province, Solomon Islands, serves as the case study for this analysis. Employing the conceptual frameworks of social justice and political ecology, and drawing on six months’ fieldwork in Solomon Islands, qualitative data from individual and group interviews (n=33) and document analysis (n=11) was collected across geopolitical scales - international, national, provincial and local - to compare and analyse perspectives of documents, institutions and people towards SIA and socially just development in the context of potential mining activity. Analysis of these perspectives exposed the extent to which SIA produces, reinforces and/or exacerbates, social injustices. Research findings identified the limits of SIA in: 1) recognising and accounting for indigenous identities and gender roles; 2) the unequal distribution of economic and other resources associated with the development of mining, including the privatisation of land and employment; and 3) representation of project-affected communities through consultation activities associated with SIA, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent. With political ecology as the foundation of this thesis, this thesis argues that these social injustices materialise as a result of a disparity, or mismatch, between knowledge frames across scales. While SIA is bounded to the rhetoric of social justice, consent and participation, this thesis demonstrates that Western expert knowledge and norms are interwoven into the SIA regime, rendering local experiential knowledge marginal. Reflecting this, a multiscale SIA approach is proposed to include consideration of different scales of knowledge systems, ii with outcomes that might assist to mitigate social injustices, such as those identified in this thesis. Overall, this thesis contributes to the emerging field of sociology of development by providing an original analysis based on empirical evidence to demonstrate the inefficacy of global policy applications in local contexts. It also advances current understandings about mining in Solomon Islands. iii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co- authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. iv Publications during candidature Peer-reviewed papers Albert, S., Bronen, R., Tooler, N.B., Leon, J.X, Yee, D., Ash, J., Boseto, D. and Grinham, A.R. (2017) Heading for the hills: climate driven community relocations in Solomon Islands and Alaska provide insight for a 1.5oC future, Regional Environmental Change. First online: 27 November 2017. Ash, J. and Campbell, J. (2016) Climate Change and Migration: the case of the Pacific Islands and Australia, Journal of Pacific Studies, 36(1), pp. 32-45. Conference papers Ash, J. (2017) Disparity in policy and practice? Global and local perspectives on socially just development in Solomon Islands’ emerging mining industry. 6th American Sociological Association Sociology of Development Conference, 5-7 October 2017, Detroit, United States of America. Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Contributions by others to the thesis A/Prof Kristen Lyons, Dr Karen McNamara and Dr Simon Albert contributed to this thesis in their capacity as advisors. They assisted with the conception and design of the project, gave advice on methods and interpretation of research data, and provided feedback on drafts. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. v Research involving humans or animal subjects The University Of Queensland School Of Social Science Ethical Review Panel approved the research on 20 November 2015 (RH9/2015). An amendment to the original ethical clearance application was approved on 8 June 2016 (RHD9/2015 amended). Ethical clearance was also obtained from the Government of Solomon Islands in the form of a research permit. The application for the research permit was assessed by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development research committee and approved by the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development on 25 November 2015. Evidence of ethical approval from the School of Social Science and the Government of Solomon Islands is provided in Appendix A. vi Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible if not for the unwavering support of my advisors, friends and family. First and foremost, I am especially indebted to my wonderful advisory team, A/Prof Kristen Lyons, Dr Karen McNamara and Dr Simon Albert. While they each stem from different Schools and disciplines, I am extremely fortunate to have had a strong team guiding me on this PhD journey. Their generous support, expertise and mentorship undoubtedly enriched this thesis and made the overall PhD journey an enjoyable one. I am also grateful for the informal mentorship from Dr Graham Baines, who kindly shared his intimate knowledge of Isabel Province and the minerals sector of Solomon Islands more broadly, and provided feedback on drafts. Further, I give my sincere thanks to Dr Peter Walters for his helpful and constructive feedback throughout my academic journey, from assessing my master’s thesis to reviewing each of my thesis milestone submissions. Enormous thanks to Leesa at the University of Queensland’s Disability Services Unit for arranging much needed transcribing support during fieldwork, without which it would not have been possible for me to undertake this research. In Solomon Islands, I am extremely grateful for the people who participated in my research – in Honiara, Buala and the villages of Isabel Province – who shared their valuable experiences and perspectives with me. Those names remain anonymous but I deeply express my sincere gratitude. Thanks also to my research assistant in Solomon Islands, Elizabeth Pepena, for assisting with logistical tasks in the field and with translation of interviews. I am further grateful to the staff at the University of the South Pacific, Solomon Islands Campus, for providing me with office space while I was based in Honiara. I immensely enjoyed being a member of the local academic community in Solomon Islands. I also owe gratitude to my social planning colleagues, Nicole and Owen, for their mentorship throughout my early career in social planning and social impact assessment, and for asking thought-provoking and important questions relating to this thesis. Last, but not least, to my parents – Mark and Ceris – whose support, love and encouragement made this journey possible. Thank you for your belief that I can achieve anything. vii Financial support This research was partially supported by the June Opie Fellowship, administered by the University of Auckland. Fieldwork was supported with bursaries from