OIL AND RESISTANCE IN CENTRAL AMERICA. THE CASE OF “ACCIÓN DE LUCHA ANTI-PETRO-LERA (ADELA)” IN THE SOUTH CARIBBEANOF COSTA RICA (1999-2002)

Abstract

While it is true that Central America is not internationally recognized as an oil exploitation region, during the last 20 years several transnational corporations have been implementing projects of petroleum exploration and exploitation. One of these cases is the concession given by the Costa Rican government during the nineties decade to the Harken Holdings company for the extraction of petro-leum in the South Caribbean. This concession generates an important socio-en-vironmental conflict, which gives birth to a movement called “Acción de Lucha Anti-petrolera” (ADELA); an heterogeneous movement that articulates a great diversity of local and national actors, and distinguishes itself by the use of inno-vative repertoires of contention. ADELA’s campaign was not only successful but also represents a key milestone in the region. This article analyses the role played by Adela, its conformation and the repertoires of contention that were used.