Political Ecology, Environment, and Brazil Module # 7YYB0006 (Level 7, 20 credits)

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1 Political Ecology, Environment, and Brazil Module # 7YYB0006 (Level 7, 20 credits) Tutor: Jeff Garmany Office: Chesham 3-B Tel.: ; jeffrey.garmany@kcl.ac.uk Office hours: Mon. 17:00-18:00; Thurs. 17:00-18:00 (or by appointment) Class meetings: Monday 14:00-16:00, K0.19 (Ground Floor King s Building) Tutorials: Mondays 16:00-17:00 (some weeks), K0.19 (Ground Floor King s Building) Introduction Not only is Brazil the largest Latin American country in both size and population, but with a total land mass of over eight and a half million square kilometres, it is the fifth largest country in the world. Within its borders lies incredible geographic and biological diversity, including rainforests, mountains, and desserts, and ranging from equatorial and tropical to temperate and semiarid climatic regions. With a broad and abundant supply of natural resources including one of the world s most robust agricultural sectors it should come as no surprise that Brazil has one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economies in the twenty-first century. Included with this fantastic potential, however, are a host of environmental and sociological dilemmas. In a country where almost 50 million people still live in poverty, how will pressing issues of hunger, social justice, and equitable growth be reconciled with questions of conservation and sustainability? More broadly, Brazil may be developing, but for whom will this development be most beneficial? And how will Brazil engage politically with international debates over environmental degradation and climate change? These are some of the questions to be considered in this module, drawing on perspectives from political ecology and critical social theory. Educational Aims of the Course The purpose of this module is to critically investigate questions of environmental change and political economic development, and to position them within broader historical, political, and socio-cultural contexts. Beginning with historical factors and Brazil s environmental movements, and then moving on to consider theoretical debates within political ecology, this module aims to interrogate the relationships between politics, development, and environmental issues in Brazil. Learning Outcomes of the Course By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate intellectual and practical skills appropriate to a level 7 module. 1

2 This module is divided into three, interconnected sections. The first provides students with historical background on Brazilian development and perceptions of the environment, along with the growth and mobilization of environmental movements. The second section introduces students to the critical/analytical tools of political ecology, and in the third section, these critical perspectives are put to use to understand contemporary environmental debates in Brazil. By engaging in readings and in-class discussions, and through individual research and writing exercises, it is expected that students will learn to critically interrogate specific environmental questions and explore their ramifications within broader discussions of development, sustainability, and globalization. By the end of this module, students should be able to apply socio-theoretical ideas to contemporary ecological processes in Brazil, and begin to formulate their own, politically ecologyinformed analyses. Teaching Arrangements Teaching will consist of one weekly two-hour seminar held over a single semester. In most cases the seminar will involve a presentation by the tutor in the first hour, followed by a variety of interactive formats in the second hour. These will include student presentations, debates, and role playing. In some cases there may be a on hour tutorial immediately following the seminar. Assessment Assessment will consist of: 1) 1 essay (1,500 words) is due in Week 7 on 2 March by 17:00 (submitted via KEATS and in hardcopy to Iain Hannah). The essay is weighted at 25% of the module mark and the passmark is 50. Students may answer any ONE of the following questions: A) In weeks 2 and 3 we considered historical processes of environmental change and development in Brazil, some different interpretations of those processes, and the growth of environmental activism in Brazil. Drawing on these readings, construct an overview of Brazil s ecological history over the past several decades, and provide some analytical insight into what kinds of factors differentiate Brazil from other countries. B) Drawing on the readings from weeks 3, 4, and 5, make an argument for whether or not you consider Hochstetler and Keck (2007) to be political ecologists. (And importantly, explain WHY you feel this way.) This question requires you to reflect critically on the readings across all three weeks paying special attention to week 4 in order to construct your argument. C) The readings from week 5 (mostly) highlight the degradation and marginalization thesis (Robbins, 2011). For this question, pick a contemporary political ecology issue in Brazil (i.e., a case study topic) and analyze it using this thesis. You will clearly need to reflect carefully on Robbins to answer this question, 2

3 but you should also use the other readings from week 5 to help expand your analysis. Your task is to use the thesis as a lens/framework for reflecting upon and unpacking your case study topic, and your goal is to analyse and provide insight into both the thesis as well as your case study. 2) 1 essay (4,000 words) due on 2 May at 17:00 (submitted via KEATS and in hardcopy to Iain Hannah), weighted 75% of the module mark. The pass mark for this essay is 50. Students may answer any ONE of the following questions: A) In weeks 7, 8, 9, and 10, we considered four different political ecology theses (Robbins, 2011). For this essay, pick one of these theses and apply it to a contemporary political ecology issue in Brazil (i.e., a case study topic). Your task is to use the thesis as a lens/framework for reflecting upon and unpacking your case study topic, and your goal is to analyse and provide insight into both the thesis as well as your case study. You will need to reflect carefully on Robbins to answer this question, but you should also use the other readings from the same week as well as additional readings you identify through your own research to help expand your analysis. B) This essay requires you to write a literature review of the class readings. Your essay should NOT simply be an annotated bibliography: you need to construct an essay that highlights the major themes connecting the readings, shows your understanding and insights, and puts the authors in conversation around political ecology, the environment, and Brazil. Note that your essay should NOT focus on Robbins (2011), as doing so would make for an oddly constructed essay. Instead, your essay should focus on the other readings and in particular, their research insights to provide a critical literature review. Students who chose to answer this question are strongly encouraged to meet with the tutor to discuss their essay. C) This module has focused on political ecology perspectives to understand environmental issues in Brazil. Political ecology, however, is of course not the only lens one could use to investigate the relationships between the environment, political economy, development, and the state. For this question, you should argue the merits of a different analytical perspective, and in so doing make a critique of political ecology (i.e., you should make very clear that you understand political ecology and that you have done the class readings). To make your argument, pick a contemporary environmental issue in Brazil (i.e., a case study topic), and show why a different perspective is more useful for investigating that issue than political ecology. Students who chose to answer this question are strongly encouraged to meet with the tutor to discuss their essay. Attendance policy Attendance at all class meetings is mandatory, and, in accordance with college regulation, students may be removed from the program if they do not attend regularly. Attendance at sessions whether seminars, tutorials, or screenings is monitored. Unavoidable absence must always be explained to the member of staff 3

4 concerned, preferably in advance. Of course, you may at times be unwell or otherwise unable to meet a particular deadline for good reason. You must inform the course tutor at once in all such cases. If you are absent through illness for more than a week you must provide a medical certificate as soon as you return. If you fail to attend more than three sessions in any course without valid excuse, you will be contacted and you absence investigated. Course materials Several readings will be made available on KEATS (e.g., single chapters and articles not available through the King s library). Most articles can be found through the Ejournals link in the Library Catalogue (online). Books for which we will read more than two chapters can easily be found for sale online or at the King s library. Those books include the following: Hochstetler, K. and Keck, M.E., Greening Brazil: Environmental Activism in State and Society. Duke University Press, Durham. Oxford. Course Structure and Reading Lists Week 1: Introduction Introduce the course, discuss the topics and readings to be covered, outline course policies and expectations, and begin to explore the basics of political ecology. Week 2: History, the environment, and histories of the environment in Brazil Historical perspectives of nature, resource extraction, environmental protection, economic development, indigenous rights, exploration, etc.. Dean, W., With Broadax and Firebrand: The Destruction of the Brazilian Atlantic Forrest. University of California Press, Berkeley: pp Hall, A.L., Developing Amazonia: Deforestation and Social Conflict in Brazil s Carajás Programme. Manchester University Press, Manchester: pp Hecht, S. and Cockburn, A., The Fate of the Forest: Developers, Destroyers and Defenders of the Amazon. Penguin, New York: pp Page, J., The Brazilians. Perseus Books, Reading: pp

5 Hecht, S., The Scramble for the Amazon and the Lost Paradise of Euclides da Cunha. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Hemming, J., Amazon Frontier: The Defeat of the Brazilian Indians. MacMillan, London. Guimarães, R.P., The Ecopolitics of Development in the Third World: Politics and Environment in Brazil. Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc., Boulder (CO). Week 3: Environmental movements in Brazil Some background on environmental protection and social mobilization. Hecht, S. and Cockburn, A., The Fate of the Forest: Developers, Destroyers and Defenders of the Amazon. Penguin, New York: pp Hochstetler, K. and Keck, M.E., Greening Brazil: Environmental Activism in State and Society. Duke University Press, Durham: pp Mendes, C. (with Tony Gross), Fight for the Forest: Chico Mendes in his own Words. Latin American Bureau, London. Posey, D.A., Exploitation of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge in Latin America: Challenges to sovereignty and the old order, in Cavalcanti, C. (Ed.) The Environment, Sustainable Development and Public Policies: Building Sustainability in Brazil. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham: pp., Wright, A.L. and Wolford, W., To Inherit the Earth: The Landless Movement and the Struggle for a new Brazil. Food First Books, Oakland. Week 4: Introducing political ecology Nature, society, and the state: the concepts and terms of political ecology. Oxford: pp Scott, J., Seeing like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition have Failed. Yale University Press, New Haven: pp

6 Bryant, R.L. and Bailey, S., Third World Political Ecology. Psychology Press, London. Hecht, S.B., Invisible forests, in Peet, D. and Watts, M. (Eds.), Liberation Ecologies: Environment, Development, and Social Movements. Routledge, London: pp Peet, R., Robbins, P., and Watts, M., (Eds.) Global Political Ecology. Routledge, London. Week 5: Considering political ecology in Brazil, and the degradation and marginalization thesis Using to the tools of political ecology to examine Brazil. Finan, T., Drought and demagoguery: A political ecology of climate variability in northeast Brazil. Workshop paper Public Philosophy, Environment, and Social Justice, Oct : Hecht, S. and Cockburn, A., The Fate of the Forest: Developers, Destroyers and Defenders of the Amazon. Penguin, New York: pp Oxford: Zimmerer, K.S., Environmental discourses on soil degradation in Bolivia, in Peet, D. and Watts, M. (Eds.), Liberation Ecologies: Environment, Development, and Social Movements. Routledge, London: pp Harvey, D., Justice, Nature and the Geography of Difference. Blackwell, Oxford: pp Walker, R., Moran, E., and Anselin, L., Deforestation and cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon: External capital and household processes. World Development 28(4): Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T. and Davis, I., At Risk: Natural Hazards, People s Vulnerability and Disasters. Routledge, London, pp Week 6: READING WEEK 6

7 Week 7: Conservation and control ESSAY #1 DUE Land and environmental conservation problems, and the problems with land and environmental conservation. Abakerli, S., A critique of development and conservation policies in environmentally sensitive regions in Brazil. Geoforum 32(4): Hochstetler, K. and Keck, M.E., Greening Brazil: Environmental Activism in State and Society. Duke University Press, Durham: pp Newberry, D., Why are there cattle in the conservation area? Social barriers to biofuel governance in Brazil. Geoforum 54: Oxford: Latta, A. and Wittman, H., Environment and Citizenship in Latin America: Natures, Subjects and Struggles. Berghahn Books, New York. Wunder, S., Native tourism, natural forests and local incomes on Ilha Grande, Brazil, in Gössling, S. (Ed.), Tourism and Development in Tropical Islands: Political Ecology Perspectives. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham: pp., Week 8: Environmental conflict Regulating land and resources, the role of the state, and conflicts that ensue. Dove, M., Indigenous people and environmental politics. Annual Review of Anthropology 35: Ioris, A.A.R., Applying the strategic-relational approach to urban political ecology: The water management problems of the Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Antipode 44(1): McAllister, L., Making Law Matter: Environmental Protection and Legal Institutions in Brazil. Stanford University Press, Stanford: pp

8 Oxford: Redclift, M., and Goodman, D., Environment and Development in Latin America: The Politics of Sustainability. Manchester University Press, Manchester: pp Mustafa, D., The production of an urban hazardscape in Pakistan: Modernity, vulnerability, and the range of choice. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 95(3): Smith, N., Uneven Development: Nature, Capital, and the Production of Space. University of Georgia Press, Athens. Week 9: Environmental subjects and identities Technocratic governance, environmental regulation, and the production of nature and society. Belsky, J., Misrepresenting communities: The politics of community-based rural ecotourism in Gales Point Manatee, Belize. Rural Sociology 64(4): Brown, J.C. and Purcell, M., There s nothing inherent about scale: Political ecology, the local trap, and the politics of development in the Brazilian Amazon. Geoforum 36(5): Fisher, P.B., XXXX. Ecological governmentality: The displacement of the local in the Rio Negro river region of Brazil. XXXXXXXXX Goldman, M., Eco-governmentality and other transnational practices of a green World Bank, in Peet, D. and Watts, M. (Eds.), Liberation Ecologies: Environment, Development, and Social Movements. Routledge, London: pp Oxford: Escobar, A., Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton University Press, Princeton: pp Wainwright, J., Decolonizing Development: Colonial Power and the Maya. Blackwell, Oxford. 8

9 Week 10: Political objects and actors Critical perspectives regarding the relationships between humans and nature. Hochstetler, K. and Keck, M.E., Greening Brazil: Environmental Activism in State and Society. Duke University Press, Durham: pp Keck, M.E., Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink : Land use and water policy in São Paulo, Brazil, in Evans, P. (Ed.) Livable Cities? Urban Struggles for Livelihood and Sustainability. University of California Press, Berkeley: pp Meehan, K., Tool-power: Water infrastructure as wellsprings of state power. Geoforum 57: Mitchell, T., Rule of Experts: Egypt, Techno-politics, Modernity. University of California Press, Berkeley: pp Oxford: Bakker, K., Commons versus commodities: Political ecologies of water privatization, in Peet, R., Robbins, P., and Watts, M. (Eds.), Global Political Ecology. Routledge, London: pp Biehl, J., When people come first: Beyond technical and theoretical quick-fixes in global health, in Peet, R., Robbins, P., and Watts, M. (Eds.), Global Political Ecology. Routledge, London: pp Week 11: Global engagement and governing environmental futures Globalization, climate change, and environmental policy in Brazil. Bumpus, A. G. and Liverman, D. M., Carbon colonialism? Offsets, greenhouse gas reductions, and sustainable development, in Peet, R., Robbins, P., and Watts, M. (Eds.), Global Political Ecology. Routledge, London: pp Cole, J. C., and Liverman, D. M., Brazil s clean development mechanism governance in the context of Brazil s historical environment-development discourses. Carbon Management 2(2):

10 Hochstetler, K., South-South trade and the environment: A Brazilian case study. Global Environmental Politics 13(1): Hochstetler, K. and Viola, E., Brazil and the politics of climate change: Beyond the global commons. Environmental Politics 21(5): Fernside, P.M., Environmental services as a strategy for sustainable development in rural Amazonia, in Cavalcanti, C. (Ed.) The Environment, Sustainable Development and Public Policies: Building Sustainability in Brazil. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham: pp., Moore, S., Global garbage: Waste, trash trading, and local garbage politics, in Peet, R., Robbins, P., and Watts, M. (Eds.), Global Political Ecology. Routledge, London: pp ESSAY #2 DUE 2 MAY BY 17:00 (submitted via KEATS and in hardcopy to Iain Hannah) 10