Socio-territorial movements resisting the expansion of the hydrocarbon frontier in contemporary Argentina

Abstract

The article analyzes the issue of gas and oil exploitation in Argentina, focusing on the socio-territorial movements that resist the expansion of the hydrocarbon frontier in three key areas: the geological formation of Vaca Muerta, the San Matías Gulf, and the Argentine Sea. Employing a qualitative approach, the study identifies the characteristics of these movements, their repertoires of collective action, and the discourses of valuation they advance against the fossil extractivist model. The article highlights the tensions between the economic development driven by unconventional hydrocarbons and the socio-environmental impacts associated with these projects. Movements, articulated from environmental, territorial, and climate perspectives, propose alternatives to the traditional energy model and critique the logic of development premised on the notion of unlimited economic growth. They use disruptive, artistic, and pedagogical actions to make their demands visible. Through interviews and analysis of secondary source, the article explores the impacts of fracking in Vaca Muerta, hydrocarbon infrastructure projects in the San Matías Gulf, and offshore exploitation in deep waters. The article concludes with a reflection on the potential for consolidating their demands for climate justice and transitioning toward sustainable energy policies.