Inside Mining Capitalism: The Micropolitics of Work on the Congolese and Zambian Copperbelts

A groundbreaking analysis of 21st-century labor practices in the mining industry in Africa, exploring the emergence of a neoliberal labor regime and the processes of improvisation and adaptation by mine workers, unionists, and human resource managers. The book examines the implications of power dynamics surrounding companies' labor strategies from the broader perspective of trade unions, gender equality, and identity politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2021
Publisher: James Currey

Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, African nations endowed with mineral resources have experienced an unprecedented surge in foreign direct investments and the emergence of novel flexible workforce management practices in the mining sector. However, what implications does this have for the individuals who actively engage in this industry? Drawing upon research conducted in the Congo and Zambia, where a mining boom has resulted in the establishment of over thirty new mining projects in recent years, this book delves into the processes of improvisation and adaptation underlying the emergence of this neoliberal labor regime. The contributors shed light on how mining project labor practices have been mediated, negotiated, or resisted by mine workers, unionists, and human resource managers. They explore the diverse variations in labor practices implemented by new mining projects, contingent upon the type of capital involved, the specific type of mine being developed, and its geographical location. Furthermore, the book examines the broader implications of power dynamics surrounding companies' labor strategies, encompassing the responsibility of trade unions, gender equality, and identity politics.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, African countries with mineral resources have witnessed an unprecedented rise in foreign direct investments and the development of new flexible workforce management practices in the mining industry. But what does this mean for those who actually work in this industry? Based on research in the Congo and Zambia,where a mining boom has led to more than thirty new mining projects in recent years,this book explores the processes of improvisation and adaptation behind the emergence of this neoliberal labor regime. The contributors show how mining projects labor practices have been mediated,negotiated,or resisted by mine workers,unionists,and human resource managers. They discuss variations in labor practices put in place by new mining projects depending on the type of capital involved,the type of mine being developed,and their location. Finally,the book examines the implications of power dynamics surrounding companies labor strategies from the broader perspective of the responsibility of trade unions,gender equality,and identity politics.

Weight: 244g
Dimension: 138 x 215 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847012869