In the Andes there are cities that disappear. The resettlement of the city of Morococha and the conflict between the new and old Morocochanos, through the anthropology of moralities.

Abstract

The start-up of the Toromocho mining project involved the resettlement of the city of Morococha. This situation generated a social crisis that became a conflict in which different opinions could be glimpsed regarding the negotiation and the methods to be used for an adequate resettlement. This process fueled social differences, prejudices, discrimination and different types of accusations within a city on the verge of an absolutely radical change. But above all, it divided the social actors who, on the one hand, were in favor of resettlement without negotiation (tenants) and on the other those who were in favor of resettlement based on the implementation of a prior negotiation with the Chinalco mining company (true Morocochanos). With the aim of giving an argumentative thread, I explain this conflict in four parts: rupture, crisis, readjustment and reintegration.