The construction of new oil pipelines and the expansion of existing ones have been met with sustained resistance across North America. Pipeline expansion has been justified for economic reasons, but has emerged as a “chokepoint” for the industry as popular resistance has sought to protect land and water resources. This resistance has both national and cross-border continental dimensions, depending on the specificities of the pipeline under analysis. The cross-border dimensions are particularly evident in the efforts to halt the expansion of Canada’s tar sands, the source of much of the increased oil production. Despite the continental scope of the oil industry, however, distinct national dimensions—“border effects”—and cross-border alliances remain.
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