Predatory Mining, Conflict and Political Spaces: The Case of Grasberg Mine in West Papua

Located in West Papua, Grasberg mine is one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines. Over nearly six decades of activities, the mine has contributed significantly to Indonesia’s economy. However, the indigenous communities living in the proximity of the mega-project have suffered the brunt of socio-environmental impacts and ongoing conflicts. The paper examines the successive governance regimes that have overseen the operations of Grasberg and asks why local conflicts have endured. Drawing on political economy insights, as well as data collected during field research, the paper demonstrates that the Indonesian state has selected certain strategies and actors aligned with corporate interests and absented itself in key developmental responsibilities while leaving local communities with limited political spaces to seek redress for loss of land, livelihood, and environmental harm. In such a context, the plural corporate social responsibility schemes established by the mine’s corporation have remained ill-equipped to quell local conflict.