Departing from the existing literature, The Roots of Engagement examines the individual-level factors that shape a person's opinions over resource extraction. It looks at what makes some individuals accept extractive activities close to their homes, while other individuals strongly reject them. Moisés Arce, Michael S. Hendricks, and Marc S. Polizzi find that an individual's level of social engagement-defined by a person's participation in local
organizations-is critical for understanding these differences. Based on three original public opinion surveys and interviews conducted in Tía María in Peru, Fuleni in South Africa, and Rancho Grande in Nicaragua, The Roots of Engagement is the first book to measure social engagement in organizations and its connection
to attitudes about extraction and development.