Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain
Suriname was one of the first countries in the global South to produce aluminium. The establishment of this industry, including the hydroelectric dam that was meant to power it, was the key idea upon which Suriname’s entire dream of modernity and independence was constructed. Negotiations with the A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institut de Hautes Études Internationales et du Développement
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Revue Internationale de Politique de Développement |
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| Online Access: | http://journals.openedition.org/poldev/5331 |
| _version_ | 1797787985196875776 |
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| author | Simon Lobach |
| author_facet | Simon Lobach |
| author_sort | Simon Lobach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Suriname was one of the first countries in the global South to produce aluminium. The establishment of this industry, including the hydroelectric dam that was meant to power it, was the key idea upon which Suriname’s entire dream of modernity and independence was constructed. Negotiations with the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) resulted in Suriname accepting a treaty under which hardly any benefits accumulated in the country itself, while the establishment of the industry caused loss of land, environmental damage and the deculturation of the Surinamese Maroon communities. After these revolted against the state, Alcoa left the country, leaving behind an ‘aluminium landscape’ where aluminium is no longer produced, but where the original population, insofar as its members have not moved to the cities, is still heavily affected by the changes caused by the Surinamese aluminium boom. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:29:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a6c5119716c4c31bb3267624d3d64e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9375 1663-9391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:29:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Institut de Hautes Études Internationales et du Développement |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revue Internationale de Politique de Développement |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a6c5119716c4c31bb3267624d3d64e62023-07-04T09:08:38ZengInstitut de Hautes Études Internationales et du DéveloppementRevue Internationale de Politique de Développement1663-93751663-93912023-06-011610.4000/poldev.5331Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities RemainSimon LobachSuriname was one of the first countries in the global South to produce aluminium. The establishment of this industry, including the hydroelectric dam that was meant to power it, was the key idea upon which Suriname’s entire dream of modernity and independence was constructed. Negotiations with the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) resulted in Suriname accepting a treaty under which hardly any benefits accumulated in the country itself, while the establishment of the industry caused loss of land, environmental damage and the deculturation of the Surinamese Maroon communities. After these revolted against the state, Alcoa left the country, leaving behind an ‘aluminium landscape’ where aluminium is no longer produced, but where the original population, insofar as its members have not moved to the cities, is still heavily affected by the changes caused by the Surinamese aluminium boom.http://journals.openedition.org/poldev/5331extractivismaluminiumbauxitehydroelectricityneo-colonialismindependence |
| spellingShingle | Simon Lobach Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain Revue Internationale de Politique de Développement extractivism aluminium bauxite hydroelectricity neo-colonialism independence |
| title | Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain |
| title_full | Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain |
| title_fullStr | Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain |
| title_short | Aluminium in Suriname (1898–2020): An Industry Came and Went, but its Impacts on the Maroon Communities Remain |
| title_sort | aluminium in suriname 1898 2020 an industry came and went but its impacts on the maroon communities remain |
| topic | extractivism aluminium bauxite hydroelectricity neo-colonialism independence |
| url | http://journals.openedition.org/poldev/5331 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simonlobach aluminiuminsuriname18982020anindustrycameandwentbutitsimpactsonthemarooncommunitiesremain |