Utilisation competitions over ecological resources: uncovering the social nature of the environmental problem (original) (raw)
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Sustainable Development and Nature: The Social and The Material
Sustainable Development, 2013
In this paper we argue that one way of viewing the relationship between sustainable development and nature is to explore the extent to which human-made capital can be substituted for nature ('natural capital'). It is suggested that this substitution/replacement exposes societies to different risks and uncertainties. Our point of departure is to distinguish sociologically between different 'natures', which reflect different levels of human/natural capital substitution and degrees of hybridity: First Nature, Second Nature, Third Nature and Fourth Nature. This approach to sustainable developmentthrough investigating the coexistence of human-made and natural capital, and the effects of this process on risk and uncertaintyis used to explain the vicissitudes of much of the 'sustainable development' debate. Focusing on sustainable consumption and ecological modernization, the paper also suggests that regulation theory might help to explain how different environmental policy options are chosen, and the limitations of these options.
Ecological Environment: The Sociological Perspectives
Journal of Applied Social Science, 2005
Writers on ecological environment have concentrated mainly on the political and economic effects of human populations on the natural environment. Most of the write-ups have not looked beyond outer appearances especially, at what lies beneath. This paper looks beyond what lies beneath by using sociological thinking and information to explain the human environment interactions. The paper uses three prominent sociological perspectives-functionalism, conflict, and interactionism, to examine the interactions. Functionalists identify desertification, deforestation, oil spillage, gas flaring and sea erosion as the source of environmental problems. To overcome these problems, man should be sensitive to both the manifest and latent consequences of their actions on the environment. Conflict theorists identify the inequality in the distribution of the world' s resources as the source of environmental problems. To overcome these problems, the government and oil companies should take bold steps to arrest deforestation, oil spillage, gas flaring and sea encroachment. Interactionists identify human actions and inactions as the sources of environmental problems. To overcome environmental problems, political actions involving human judgements, decisions, and choices, should be taken.
The last sixty years have seen a significant shift away from seeing resource wealth as a key component of positive macro-economic reform, to acceptance of the negative impacts that an abundance of, or dependence on, natural resources can have on security, economic growth, and the development of accountable political institutions. The appropriation and extraction of natural resources emerge as expressions of complex relations existing within and between states, institutions and actors. At the same time, the attention given to this potential 'resource curse' has precipitated a number of critiques that challenge not only the data and statistical methods used to link resource wealth with negative development outcomes, but also the theoretical foundation and relevance of studies that reduce complex socio-political and economic relations to the presence of specific resources. This article draws on key literature from the field of political ecology to demonstrate how the concept of 'nature' has been omitted from these discussions. Critical analysis of 'nature' can refine the theoretical foundation and practical application of the 'resource curse' thesis. By re-inserting, re-politicizing and re-localizing the concept of nature we can include local production and consumption in the analysis, while also highlighting the link between our understanding of natural resources and historically rooted discourses of 'proper-use.' Les soixante dernières années ont vu un changement significatif loin de l'identification d'une abondance de ressources naturelles comme un élément clé de la réforme macro-économique positif. Maintenant, on accepte les impacts négatifs que l'abondance de (ou la dépendance) des ressources naturelles peut avoir sur la sécurité, la croissance économique et le développement des institutions politiques responsables. L'appropriation et l'extraction des ressources naturelles sont considérées comme des expressions de relations complexes qui existent au sein et entre les Etats, les institutions et les acteurs. Dans le même temps, l'attention portée à ce potentiel «malédiction des ressources» a précipité un certain nombre de critiques qui remettent en question les données et les méthodes statistiques utilisées pour lier la richesse des ressources avec les résultats de développement négatives, et aussi le fondement théorique et la pertinence des études qui permettent de réduire complexe relations socio-politiques et économiques à la présence de ressources spécifiques. Cet article s'appuie sur la littérature clé de l'écologie politique pour démontrer comment le concept de «nature» a été omis dans ces discussions. Une analyse critique de la «nature» peut affiner les fondements théoriques et les applications pratiques de la thèse de la «malédiction des ressources». En réinsérant, re-politiser et re-localiser le concept de nature, nous pouvons inclure la production locale et la consommation dans l'analyse, tout en soulignant le lien entre notre connaissance des ressources naturelles et des discours historiquement enracinées de «bon usage». Los últimos sesenta años han presenciado un cambio significativo, al cambiarse la percepción de la riqueza de recursos de un componente clave de la reforma macroeconómica a aceptarse el impacto negativo que la abundancia de recursos naturales, o una dependencia de los mismos, puede tener sobre la seguridad, el crecimiento económico y el desarrollo de instituciones políticas que deban responder de sus acciones. La apropiación y extracción de recursos naturales emerge como la expresión de relaciones complejas entre partes de una nación, estados, instituciones y otros actores. Al mismo tiempo, la atención prestada a esta potencial "maldición del recurso" ha dado lugar a numerosas críticas que ponen en duda no solo los datos y métodos estadísticos usados para relacionas riqueza de recursos con resultados negativos en el desarrollo, sino también los fundamentos teóricos y la relevancia de los estudios que reducen a la presencia de recursos específicos complejas relaciones socio-políticas y económicas. Este artículo toma como base literatura básica en el campo de la ecología política para demostrar cómo se ha omitido el concepto de "naturaleza" de estas discusiones. El análisis crítico de "naturaleza" puede refinar la fundamentación teórica y la aplicación práctica de la tesis de la "maldición del recurso". Mediante la reinserción, repolitización y relocalización del concepto de naturaleza es posible incluir la producción y el consumo local en el análisis, al mismo tiempo que enfatizar el enlace entre nuestro entendimiento de los recursos naturales y discursos de raíz histórica del "uso propio".
Towards the Conflict and Compatibility of the Contemporary Economy with Nature
Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, 2023
The subject of interest is the constant deepening of the old conflict between culture and nature, and thus also the conflict with nature and the economy, which J. Šmajs considers to be a subsystem of culture. The conflict between nature and culture is considered to be the main cause of the global ecological crisis, which is a crisis of coexistence between humans and nature. Attention is drawn to the predatory economy, which Šmajs considers to be one of the causes of this conflict and which greatly influences the shape of contemporary culture. The main aim of the paper is to find ways in which this conflict, which has acquired a global dimension, can be mitigated and to advocate for the synergy or compatibility of the economy as well as the whole culture with nature. The solution is to move away from anthropocentrism, to reorient values in society based on a proper understanding of the phenomena of nature, culture and economy. Along with this, it is important to raise environmental awareness among economic actors, but practically among all people. We consider that to be an important step towards mitigating the above-mentioned conflict and towards the development of a sustainable economy and society.
Socio-environmental conflicts spread globally and put into question the currently hegemonic governance of socio-ecological relations. Such conflicts range from the struggles against mega-projects and noxious infrastructures for waste management to campaigns against the privatization of the commons and their capitalistic use. It seems to us that what these processes make visible is the antagonism between practices of dispossession of human as well as non-human natures which establish new commodity frontiers and the needs of human as well as non-human populations. This fundamental conflict is not sectorial and cannot be situated in a limited space; rather, it affects nature as a whole, the environment as the common basis for all living beings – that environment-in-common which the perspective of world-ecology recognizes as oikeios, as the creative, historical and dialectical relation between species and their environments, hence between human and non-human natures. We welcome submission which aim at fostering debate on the links between socio-environmental conflicts and the reproduction of capitalist socio-ecological relations. We encourage discussion on theoretical and methodological approaches whose goal is the overcoming of the Cartesian dualism between nature and culture from the standpoint of a critique of ruling power relations (with specific regard to their socio-ecological dimension). We are particularly interested on inter/multidisciplinary contributions which are able to differentially combine empirical and theoretical insights in the context of an analysis of extractivist capitalism, of world-ecology and of political ecology. Thus, we welcome abstract on the following issues (amongst others): Socio-environmental conflicts on/against the localization of infrastructures and mega-projects; Commons-related conflicts; Political ecology as a theoretical perspective; Degrowth: analysis, critique, perspectives; Cases of public policies (regional, national, local) supporting socio-ecological programs which are alternative to the ruling ones.
Difference and Conflict in the Struggle Over Natural Resources: A political ecology framework
Development, 2006
Arturo Escobar examines the increasing number of conflicts over natural resources around the world in response to neo-liberal globalization. He argues that such escalating environmental conflicts can be conceptually understood through three inter-related rubrics: economic, ecological, and cultural. His interest is in the relationship between difference and equality of access in economic, ecological, and cultural distribution conflicts in order to
ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY: PARALYZED THROUGH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RE-MODIFICATIONS AND FIEFDOM
The modern material mechanized world's political and economic ideology as far as environmental concerns is based on the policy of self-determination and exploration which relies blindly on biodiversity utilization, desertification, deforestation, industrial growth, chemical wastage, poisonous emissions. Moreover the environmental issues function on local and global phenomenon controlled through decision making of hierarchies of power. Hence modernization and development works at multiple levels including the roles, actions and practices of government agents, civil society and individuals. It connects local, national, international and global environmental domain and discourse, which attempts to bring forth the social impacts and climate change due to environmental problems arising out of scientific advancements.This paper attempts to bring together Ecology and Economics-the disparate disciplines of different nature by probing into the sole objectives of both respectively. It aims to investigate how the local sources become the source of subsistence for inhabitants. Thirdly the paper will take up the role and responsibilities of the stakeholders to reconstruct the dysfunctional ecological balance and to recompense the loss that has occurred due to blindness towards global environmental health and harmony.
The Sustainable Development Approach in the Economy-Ecology Dilemma
Regional Economic Integration and the Global Financial System, 2015
The managerial model of cooperation and dialogue-driven, international, and supranational efforts during the past half-century form one of the most important topics within the "sustainable development" concept. Rapidly growing human population, together with the unsustainable pattern of consumption of renewable natural resources for future generations, also leads to the transfer of resources. The concept of development in keeping with ecological concerns about the impact of the dynamic approach should be reformulated. Faced with such dilemmas, these debates illustrate the need for a rational approach. Without jeopardizing the needs of future generations, to meet the demands of today's resource usage, the authors envision a sustainable development approach that seeks to balance protection and use. This approach should be addressed in the context of an understanding.
2003
power stations, factories and warehouses, or for living-, commercial-, recreational-and wastedisposal areas. We find the natural environment's capacity for self-cleansing being increasingly taxed by waste, sewage, exhaust and waste heat deriving from production and consumption and no possibility for safe disposal of atomic waste. We find the Earth's atmosphere warming dangerously, and varieties of animal and plant life dying out on a global scale due to mining for raw material, the processes of production and consumption and the related creation of pollutants. Now as then one can reasonably assert that the aforementioned facts and tendencies can be traced back to human economic behaviour.