Making or breaking social license to operate in the mining industry: Factors of the main drivers of social conflict

Abstract

Mining companies are under public scrutiny for their impacts on society. Previous studies have discussed aspects of the drivers of social conflicts and the factors that lead communities to grant or withdraw SLO; however, no previous research has attempted to bring together the range of conflicts in a single paper. The purpose of this research was to identify the factors that influence the main drivers of social conflict and how these factors must be aligned to help a company earn SLO instead of losing it. This qualitative research consisted of a case study analysis of two mining companies that operate in Peru and also included insights drawn from in-depth interviews and the emerging literature on SLO. The findings indicated that there were different factors for each driver of social conflict and that a company's strategic actions with regard to these factors could help it either earn or lose SLO. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd