Search
Browse By Day
Browse By Time
Browse By Person
Browse By Mini-Conference
Browse By Division
Browse By Session or Event Type
Browse Sessions by Fields of Interest
Browse Papers by Fields of Interest
Search Tips
Conference
Location
About APSA
Personal Schedule
Change Preferences / Time Zone
Sign In
X (Twitter)
There is increasing evidence that resource-rich developing countries solemnly protect licensed transnational mining companies against all forms of encroachment by illegal miners. However, between 2017 and 2020, a mining dispute emerged between an illegal Chinese mining company (Shaanxi) and a licensed Australian mining company (Cassius) in Gbane, Ghana. Surprisingly, the state encouraged the illegal mining company to obtain a mining license but evicted the licensed mining company by failing to renew its license. I investigate this outcome by garnering qualitative field and documentary evidence. I find that the networks between transnational mining companies and elite and social groups at different levels of the state can impact political decisions over access to mineralised lands. The finding provides critical insights into how foreign business actors harness divergent networks with competing elite and social groups in resource-rich developing countries in ways that drive economic policy decisions and outcomes.