IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v11y2022i6p885-d836065.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Social Barrier of Strategic Coupling: A Case Study of the Letpadaung Copper Mine in Myanmar

Author

Listed:
  • Qidi Ji

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Weidong Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Tao Song

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Boyang Gao

    (School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing 100081, China)

Abstract

Civil society is not as impotent as argued by many scholars in facing the pervasive force of economic globalization, and instead can play an important role in the strategic coupling of multinationals with localities. This study attempts to deepen existing research on the strategic coupling of mining production networks by emphasizing the role of social actors at different scales in the coupling process. It uses the qualitative survey method to provide analytical insights into the case of the Letpadaung Copper Mine in Myanmar, which is an investment of the Chinese company Wanbao Mining. Social actors represented by local communities and NGOs may have different interests from mining firms on issues such as land use, rural livelihoods, and environmental impacts, which constitute a sort of social barrier to strategic coupling. Wanbao Mining has taken steps to balance the intentions of multiple actors at different scales through bargaining, ultimately achieving an inclusive coupling that is a win-win for all parties. The concept of social barriers incorporates land-use issues into the strategic coupling research, contributing to the study of socio-economic and political issues of land in the context of globalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Qidi Ji & Weidong Liu & Tao Song & Boyang Gao, 2022. "The Social Barrier of Strategic Coupling: A Case Study of the Letpadaung Copper Mine in Myanmar," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:885-:d:836065
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/885/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/6/885/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tang-Lee, Diane, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and public engagement for a Chinese state-backed mining project in Myanmar – Challenges and prospects," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 28-37.
    2. Tom Barratt & Bradon Ellem, 2019. "Temporality and the evolution of GPNs: remaking BHP’s Pilbara iron ore network," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(11), pages 1555-1564, November.
    3. Nicholas A Phelps & Miguel Atienza & Martin Arias, 2018. "An invitation to the dark side of economic geography," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 50(1), pages 236-244, February.
    4. Neil M Coe & Henry Wai-chung Yeung, 2019. "Global production networks: mapping recent conceptual developments," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 19(4), pages 775-801.
    5. Prno, Jason & Scott Slocombe, D., 2012. "Exploring the origins of ‘social license to operate’ in the mining sector: Perspectives from governance and sustainability theories," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 346-357.
    6. Hildy Teegen & Jonathan P Doh & Sushil Vachani, 2004. "The importance of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in global governance and value creation: an international business research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(6), pages 463-483, November.
    7. Thomas Lyon & A. Montgomery, 2013. "Tweetjacked: The Impact of Social Media on Corporate Greenwash," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(4), pages 747-757, December.
    8. Gavin Bridge, 2008. "Global production networks and the extractive sector: governing resource-based development," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(3), pages 389-419, May.
    9. Neil M. Coe & Peter Dicken & Martin Hess, 2008. "Global production networks: realizing the potential," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(3), pages 271-295, May.
    10. Coe, Neil M. & Yeung, Henry Wai-chung, 2015. "Global Production Networks: Theorizing Economic Development in an Interconnected World," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198703914.
    11. Zhi Zheng & Weidong Liu & Tao Song, 2022. "Strategic coupling in global production networks through international cooperation zones: the Thai–Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(5), pages 782-793, May.
    12. Debby Sze Wan Chan & Ngai Pun, 2020. "Renegotiating Belt and Road cooperation: social resistance in a Sino–Myanmar copper mine," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(12), pages 2109-2129, August.
    13. Chun Yang, 2013. "From Strategic Coupling to Recoupling and Decoupling: Restructuring Global Production Networks and Regional Evolution in China," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(7), pages 1046-1063, July.
    14. Henry Wai-chung Yeung, 2009. "Regional Development and the Competitive Dynamics of Global Production Networks: An East Asian Perspective," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 325-351.
    15. James Nebus & Carlos Rufin, 2010. "Extending the bargaining power model: Explaining bargaining outcomes among nations, MNEs, and NGOs," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(6), pages 996-1015, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ron Boschma, 2021. "Global Value Chains from an Evolutionary Economic Geography perspective: a research agenda," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2134, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Nov 2021.
    2. Gavin Bridge & Alexander Dodge, 2022. "Regional assets and network switching: shifting geographies of ownership, control and capital in UK offshore oil [Temporality and the evolution of GPNs: remaking BHP’s Pilbara iron ore network]," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 15(2), pages 367-388.
    3. Huiwen Gong & Robert Hassink & Cassandra Wang, 2021. "Strategic coupling and regional resilience in times of uncertainty: the industrial chain chief model in Zhejiang, China," PEGIS geo-disc-2021_06, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    4. Alexander Dodge, 2020. "The Singaporean natural gas hub: reassembling global production networks and markets in Asia [Powerful assemblages?]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 20(5), pages 1241-1262.
    5. Henrik Brynthe Lund & Markus Steen, 2019. "Make at home or abroad? Manufacturing reshoring through a GPN lens," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_09, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    6. Henry Wai-chung Yeung, 2015. "Regional development in the global economy: A dynamic perspective of strategic coupling in global production networks," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Huiwen Gong & Robert Hassink & Cassandra C Wang, 2022. "Strategic coupling and institutional innovation in times of upheavals: the industrial chain chief model in Zhejiang, China [Institutional change in economic geography]," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 15(2), pages 279-303.
    8. Enru Wang & Changhong Miao & Xiaofei Chen, 2022. "Circular Economy and the Changing Geography of International Trade in Plastic Waste," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-19, November.
    9. McWilliam, Sarah E. & Kim, Jung Kwan & Mudambi, Ram & Nielsen, Bo Bernhard, 2020. "Global value chain governance: Intersections with international business," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    10. Liena Kano & Eric W. K. Tsang & Henry Wai-chung Yeung, 2020. "Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 577-622, June.
    11. Fuenfschilling, Lea & Binz, Christian, 2018. "Global socio-technical regimes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 735-749.
    12. Henry Wai-chung Yeung, 2021. "The trouble with global production networks," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(2), pages 428-438, March.
    13. Xinyu Yang & Weidong Liu, 2022. "Agricultural Production Networks and Upgrading from a Global–Local Perspective: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    14. Ahamed, Sonya & Galford, Gillian L. & Panikkar, Bindu & Rizzo, Donna & Stephens, Jennie C., 2024. "Carbon collusion: Cooperation, competition, and climate obstruction in the global oil and gas extraction network," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    15. Grumiller, Jan, 2019. "A strategic-relational approach to analyzing industrial policy regimes within global production networks: The Ethiopian Leather and Leather Products Sector," Working Papers 60, Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE).
    16. Stephen J. Ramos & Umit Yilmaz, 2023. "Energy transition and city–port symbiosis in biomass import–export regions," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(2), pages 406-428, June.
    17. Philip Völlers & Thomas Neise & Philip Verfürth & Martin Franz & Felix Bücken & Kim Philip Schumacher, 2023. "Revisiting risk in the Global Production Network approach 2.0 - Towards a performative risk narrative perspective," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 55(8), pages 1838-1858, November.
    18. Giorgos Galanis & Ashok Kumar, 2021. "A dynamic model of global value network governance," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(1), pages 53-72, February.
    19. Henry Wai-chung, 2023. "From Regional to Global and Back Again? A Future Agenda for Regional Evolution and (De)Globalized Production Networks in Regional Studies," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2312, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised May 2023.
    20. Daniel Schuster & Ivo Mossig, 2022. "Power Relations in Multistakeholder Initiatives—A Case Study of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:885-:d:836065. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.