Democracy and controversies in the green transition: The case of critical mineral extraction in Sweden

The green transition's hunger for minerals creates tensions between, on one hand, the promises of politics and industry for sustainable development and, on the other hand, concerns about negative impacts on the environment, indigenous rights, and the long-term livelihoods of local communities. In this project, we investigate whether democratic participation can be maintained and even strengthened in connection with conflicts surrounding the extraction of critical minerals in Sweden. We analyze the functioning of democracy in ongoing or planned cases of mining and develop, in close collaboration with key stakeholders, practically applicable tools for inclusive decision-making.