Bridging struggles against extractivism From place-based resistance movements toward translocal environmental justice endeavors in the Netherlands and Guatemala

The extractive appropriation of resources continues to reshape territories worldwide, driving environmental destruction, social injustices, and political turmoil. Struggles for social and environmental justice arise at extraction sites, contesting the burdens of resource exploitation, corporate irresponsibility, and power abuse.
Through case studies of gas extraction in Groningen, the Netherlands, and building material mining in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, this dissertation examines the territorial transformations and power struggles at extraction sites. It further explores how place-based resistance movements can engage in translocal learning and solidarity bridges - connecting territories and grassroots organizations - to confront shared injustices and articulate broader demands for justice.
The dissertation exposes intertwined modes of power and contestation at play at extraction sites, producing complex de- and repoliticization dynamics. Depoliticization is contingent and coexists with myriad possibilities for repoliticization and resistance. Responses to extractivism are marked by ambivalence and tension. It is thus important to recognize the micropolitics of resistance to build movements that are unified but not uniform. The dissertation also shows that translocal bridge building can counter feelings of powerlessness and create transformative opportunities for grassroots actors. However, it requires careful navigation of power imbalances and difference to advance broader justice claims without sidelining immediate place-specific concerns.