Papers by Valeria Llano-Arias
En la última década, el número de proyectos minero-energéticos se ha incrementado considerablemen... more En la última década, el número de proyectos minero-energéticos se ha incrementado considerablemente en Colombia, así como también los movimientos sociales que se oponen a ellos. Dichos movimientos se han convertido en las nuevas luchas en defensa del agua y de los territorios. A través de sus diferentes prácticas de comunicación y movilización, estos movimientos han permitido abrir un debate público sobre las implicaciones sociales, ambientales, políticas y económicas de los proyectos mineros e
hidroeléctricos. Además, han levantado alertas sobre el actual modelo económico y de desarrollo del país. Este artículo presenta el estudio de caso de un movimiento en contra de la minería de oro a cielo abierto en el suroeste de Antioquia, Colombia. El artículo reflexiona sobre las prácticas de comunicación y la apertura de espacios para la participación democrática. Este artículo se basa en los enfoques de comunicación
participativa y pública y la noción de ciudadanía activa y teoría de los nuevos movimientos sociales.
Botswana is one of Africa's most stable countries: it is the continent's largest continuous multi... more Botswana is one of Africa's most stable countries: it is the continent's largest continuous multi-party democracy, it is relatively corruption-free, and it had the highest economic growth rate in the world from 1967 to 1997. Moreover, Botswana comfortably achieved the Millennium Development Goal of expanding access to safe water: according to WHO/Unicef, 96% of the country's population could access an improved drinking water source by 2015. This Finance Brief examines how that access was financed, and to what extent government water subsidies are sustainable at a time of intense water scarcity. Botswana enjoys significant tax revenues from mining, unlike many of its neighbours; but its experience is nonetheless interesting.
South Africa's Equitable Share Formula is a mechanism for transfer of funds from central to local... more South Africa's Equitable Share Formula is a mechanism for transfer of funds from central to local government, to support basic services including water and sanitation. This Finance Brief outlines how the system works, and reports on its use for water and sanitation. There are a number of problems with implementation of the Equitable Share in South Africa; however, we consider that the mechanism per se is good, and can be a useful model for other countries.
Local-level participatory communication practices have enabled the opening of new democratic spac... more Local-level participatory communication practices have enabled the opening of new democratic spaces in which decisions on water policies are taken. Through their resistance to water privatisation policies, many Colombian community aqueducts have made use of a transformed political and social role. Citizens from community aqueduct associations are generating new forms of political participation and citizenship, capable of challenging the widespread political apathy in the country.
This article presents two case studies of community aqueduct associations in Colombia; exploring the scope of their communication and mobilisation actions in challenging power relations concerning water governance and in enhancing citizen participation in democratic actions. The article also explores how local water governance initiatives such as the development of a water management computer software with particular communitarian characteristics, can support local initiatives for political transformation and more sustainable water governance.
These new forms of citizenship based on claims of sovereignty over natural, common goods are gradually transforming Colombian democratic space. The article draws on debates around active citizenship, deepening democracy, and participatory communication approaches to explain the aims of community organisations and the mechanisms by which they are self-organising and managing water at the local level.
In the last decade, social movements’ struggles for water and environmental justice have noticeab... more In the last decade, social movements’ struggles for water and environmental justice have noticeably increased in Colombia and Latin America. These struggles have largely been a consequence of the implementation of neoliberal policies of water privatisation and the rise of large-scale projects such as mining and dams. These emerging social movements have produced new expressions of collective democratic participation. This thesis analyses communication practices in the Colombian water movement. It argues that these practices have created new forms of participation and citizenship which have deepened democracy. Furthermore, they have contributed to increasing the socio-political visibility and relevance of the water conflicts in Colombia. The communication practices used by the Colombian water movement have permitted the re-opening and appropriation of spaces for participation and have contributed to promoting
more inclusive and democratic practices and policies on governance and protection of natural common goods. Spaces for dialogue, meeting, diffusion of information, lobbying and protesting represent an exercise of active citizenship which has deepened Colombian democracy. This is particularly important in Colombia, a country with more than 50 years of internal violent conflict that has inhibited social movements and citizen engagement with issues of public concern. The thesis uses literature on new social movements (NSM), communication approaches (participatory, public, and communication for social
change) and citizenship. The major theoretical contribution of this thesis lies in complementing NSM theories with communication approaches drawn from
development studies. Combining these bodies of work furthers our understanding of the complex interactions of communities mobilising towards achieving social and environmental justice.
Public communication and communication for social change actions have been implemented in struggl... more Public communication and communication for social change actions have been implemented in struggles for the defence of water in Colombia, to gain citizens’ support, and raise their awareness about the water crisis locally and globally. This paper analyses the extent to which these communication practices have influenced participation and the way of doing politics in Colombia. In spite of the ‘traditional’ political competition in the country and the historical apathy toward political participation, the strength of the unifying message of water as a matter of public concern has connected different social groups. Communication for social change and public communication have pushed many people to engage directly in political and mobilisation actions; the global objective of the defence of water has been locally adapted by citizens according to the relevance of the topic to their regional problems.
During the last decade in Colombia, both the militarization of the land and the criminalisation o... more During the last decade in Colombia, both the militarization of the land and the criminalisation of protests have become widespread, along with the closing of public spaces in the name of citizen security . Social movements have been greatly affected by the armed conflict. However, new expressions of democracy and participation have been strengthened including different struggles for the defence of water and land. This paper explores how these water struggles have used a transformed political and social discourse and dynamic forms of interaction and dissemination of information. It elaborates on how the social mobilisation and the participatory communication practices of the water movement have contributed to overcome citizens' indifference while nourishing the use of new legal mechanisms for democratic participation. After providing a panorama of the Colombian socio--political environment and then a context for mining and large--scale water projects, the article draws on three specific cases to illustrate citizen--participation and communication practices. Finally, the paper analyses how the water movement is - through defending territory and identity -challenging large--scale water projects and the Colombian development model led by foreign private investment.
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Papers by Valeria Llano-Arias
hidroeléctricos. Además, han levantado alertas sobre el actual modelo económico y de desarrollo del país. Este artículo presenta el estudio de caso de un movimiento en contra de la minería de oro a cielo abierto en el suroeste de Antioquia, Colombia. El artículo reflexiona sobre las prácticas de comunicación y la apertura de espacios para la participación democrática. Este artículo se basa en los enfoques de comunicación
participativa y pública y la noción de ciudadanía activa y teoría de los nuevos movimientos sociales.
This article presents two case studies of community aqueduct associations in Colombia; exploring the scope of their communication and mobilisation actions in challenging power relations concerning water governance and in enhancing citizen participation in democratic actions. The article also explores how local water governance initiatives such as the development of a water management computer software with particular communitarian characteristics, can support local initiatives for political transformation and more sustainable water governance.
These new forms of citizenship based on claims of sovereignty over natural, common goods are gradually transforming Colombian democratic space. The article draws on debates around active citizenship, deepening democracy, and participatory communication approaches to explain the aims of community organisations and the mechanisms by which they are self-organising and managing water at the local level.
more inclusive and democratic practices and policies on governance and protection of natural common goods. Spaces for dialogue, meeting, diffusion of information, lobbying and protesting represent an exercise of active citizenship which has deepened Colombian democracy. This is particularly important in Colombia, a country with more than 50 years of internal violent conflict that has inhibited social movements and citizen engagement with issues of public concern. The thesis uses literature on new social movements (NSM), communication approaches (participatory, public, and communication for social
change) and citizenship. The major theoretical contribution of this thesis lies in complementing NSM theories with communication approaches drawn from
development studies. Combining these bodies of work furthers our understanding of the complex interactions of communities mobilising towards achieving social and environmental justice.
hidroeléctricos. Además, han levantado alertas sobre el actual modelo económico y de desarrollo del país. Este artículo presenta el estudio de caso de un movimiento en contra de la minería de oro a cielo abierto en el suroeste de Antioquia, Colombia. El artículo reflexiona sobre las prácticas de comunicación y la apertura de espacios para la participación democrática. Este artículo se basa en los enfoques de comunicación
participativa y pública y la noción de ciudadanía activa y teoría de los nuevos movimientos sociales.
This article presents two case studies of community aqueduct associations in Colombia; exploring the scope of their communication and mobilisation actions in challenging power relations concerning water governance and in enhancing citizen participation in democratic actions. The article also explores how local water governance initiatives such as the development of a water management computer software with particular communitarian characteristics, can support local initiatives for political transformation and more sustainable water governance.
These new forms of citizenship based on claims of sovereignty over natural, common goods are gradually transforming Colombian democratic space. The article draws on debates around active citizenship, deepening democracy, and participatory communication approaches to explain the aims of community organisations and the mechanisms by which they are self-organising and managing water at the local level.
more inclusive and democratic practices and policies on governance and protection of natural common goods. Spaces for dialogue, meeting, diffusion of information, lobbying and protesting represent an exercise of active citizenship which has deepened Colombian democracy. This is particularly important in Colombia, a country with more than 50 years of internal violent conflict that has inhibited social movements and citizen engagement with issues of public concern. The thesis uses literature on new social movements (NSM), communication approaches (participatory, public, and communication for social
change) and citizenship. The major theoretical contribution of this thesis lies in complementing NSM theories with communication approaches drawn from
development studies. Combining these bodies of work furthers our understanding of the complex interactions of communities mobilising towards achieving social and environmental justice.