State, society and nature in Ecuador: the case of the Yasuní-ITT initiative

NEBE/Cocoon working paper 2

Tags: Latin America , Ecuador , Civil Society Building
Additional tags: Natural resources , Yasuní -ITT , Ecuador , State , Civil society

This paper critically analyses the emergence and development of the Yasuní-ITT initiative, which is built on the idea of leaving oil underground in exchange for financial contributions from the international community .Development politics in Ecuador has experienced major changes since the   election of Correa in 2007.

Paralleling a regional trend, the state has   become a central agent in  the economy, particularly in extractive   industries. Revenues accruing  to the state from intensified usage of   non-renewable resources have  been central to the implementation of   Correa’s political agenda. At  the same time, constitutional changes   introduced in 2008 have granted  rights to nature and held the promise of   increased participatory  engagement between the state and civil society. The paper demonstrates that increased attention to environmental conservation by  the state has not resulted in improved participation. Instead, the  incipient clash between the state’s mission to provide socioeconomic  development and to preserve nature has resulted in the state sidelining  civil society and opening the possibility of intensified social conflict  over the role of nature in Ecuadorian development. .