Large-Scale Mining and Development in Africa: Essays on Migration, Political Participation & Women’s Livelihoods

The mineral demand has been rising, following improvements in living standards and the transition to clean energy technologies. This trend has been repeatedly framed as an opportunity for resource-rich African countries to capitalize on their mineral reserves and promote development. However, mining — and large-scale mining in particular — has been notoriously characterized as a problematic sector, linked to numerous social, health and environmental problems. The question thus remains: can mineral extraction truly drive sustainable development across resource-rich African countries? This thesis contributes new evidence to the long-standing debate on the role of mining for development in Africa, focusing in particular on large-scale operations. The findings underscore the complexity of local mining economies, where economic opportunities and their associated benefits coexist with rising conflict and deepening inequalities. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the research, introducing the topic of mining and development, the current state of the African mining sector, and relevant literature from both economics and anthropology. It also outlines the multidisciplinary approach of the thesis, which integrates quantitative and qualitative methods. Chapter 2 establishes a clear link between large-scale mining activities and migration patterns across African countries, showing that a 1% increase in mineral prices leads to an increase in net migration rates of 1.2 net migrants per 1,000 inhabitants in administrative units located within a 20 km radius of a mineral deposit. While this finding is largely interpreted as evidence of increased local economic opportunities, the results also reveal that large-scale mining exacerbates conflict. Chapter 3 shifts the focus to women, finding that the gender gap in political participation narrows near active mines across African countries. Examining various dimensions of political engagement, the results reveal that this narrowing is driven both by increased female involvement in activities such as community engagement, and by decreased male participation in others, including voting and political discussions. Proximity to a mine is also associated with higher rates of women’s participation in protests and greater openness to women as leaders. The primary mechanism behind these changes is suggested to be increased female part-time employment. Finally, Chapter 4 analyzes the livelihood strategies of Black, working-class women in mining-affected communities in South Africa. Through the lens of hustle lifeways, it shows how these women assert agency and autonomy in navigating precarious living conditions and gendered responsibilities created and exacerbated by industrial mining. In doing so, the chapter discusses the intersections of race, gender and class inequalities that constrain the opportunities available to Black, working-class women within the South African mining context. In light of the enduring and perhaps unresolvable complexity of local mining economies, this thesis argues that achieving sustainable development through mining requires more than robust regulatory frameworks. Most importantly, it demands a radical shift toward forms of governance that center the choices of those most directly affected by extractive activities. Without confronting the structural constraints that limit these choices, the promise of just and sustainable development through mining will remain out of reach.