SUSHANT ACHARYA AND OJESWEE PANDETeam IV

13 Sept. 2011

PRESENTATION OUTLINEDiscourse, Discourse Analysis and Discourse TheoryEnvironment and Development Discourse (EDD)Review of EDD CasesHDT Discourse AnalysisBiodiversity, Conservation and DevelopmentDevelopment as Symbolic ViolenceEthno Political Ecology of Social ExclusionEnvironment as a Emerging Dev. DiscourseCritique of Sustainable Development

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DiscourseMichel Foucault (1963-1971): a way in which human

sciences perceive world

Understood as a form of knowledge, universal type of social action

Conditions are put for a statement to be interpreted as meaningful and rational

Ernesto and Mouffe: a system of signs which are allocated meaning through articulation.

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Discourse cont’dIdeological in nature, appear as objectivity and

conceal alternative realities

Norman Fairclough: communicative act and a social practice

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Discourse: Archive and ArcheologyFoucault introduced the concepts of

Archives: knowledge horizon is determined historicallyframework for how ideas are produced and

sustained how knowledge is accepted or not

Archaeology: various forms of knowledge that we possesslimitations and possibilities, exist for creating

knowledge and generating ideas.

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Discourse AnalysisStudy of rationality and it’s expression in a particular

historical context

How human science relates to reality in a specific historical manner

How knowledge and production of knowledge have changed over time

Used to establish a general theory of discourse

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Discourse Analysis cont’d Approaches: Discourse analytical , theoretical and

critical

Emphasize the connection between discourse and power

Differ in how they attach a concept of discourse to other concepts such as: knowledge, ideology, ideas and truth

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Discourse Theory

Theory that aims at a universal theory of discourses

“Sees all social phenomena as discursive constructions, and assumes that social phenomena can be studied by discourse analysis”

Ernesto and Mouffe advanced discourse theory by deconstruction of other theory

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Environment and Development Discourse (EDD)

Economic growth/Modernization theories: enhance economic growth, efficient production, political stability

Radical development theories: modes of production, production relations and class structures

World system theory: unequal exchange between center and periphery in sharing resources and decline of bio-diversity

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EDD cont’dBUT indifferent towards the environmental costs of

economic production or ecological damages caused by capitalist production and industrial expansion

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EDD cont’dSustainable Development Model Our Common Future

Brundtland (1987)Emphasizes relative/quality of growthSatisfy essential needsEnsure sustainable level of populationConserve and enhance resource baseReorient technologyMerge environment with economicsRestructure international economic relationsMake development more participatory

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Shift in Development DiscourseBiosphere Conference in Paris ( UNICEF, 1968)UN Conference on the Human Environment

(Stockholm, 1972): integrated development, rational planning, UNEP

Vienna Convention-Ozone layer protection (1985)Ottawa Conference on Conservation and

Development (IUCN, 1986): Satisfaction of basic needs, social justice, ecological integrity

Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer (1987)

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Shift in DD cont’dEarth Summit (UNCED, 1992): UNFCCC and CBD

Non binding agreementsRio declaration regarding SDAgenda 21 (financial, technological and

institutional measures)Principles of Forest ManagementConvention to Combat Desertification (1994)

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Shift in DD cont’dThe Kyoto Protocol (1997):

establishment of ministry of environmentCreation of environment protection agenciesThe global and national institution have

advocated SD based on environment principles.

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Reviewing Cases: Theory of Himalayan Environment DegradationJulie Guthman Theory as Discourse

Producing knowledge and Producing interventionsProduction of environmental interventions

intimately connected to production of knowledgeBoth are fundamentally bound up with power

relationsThe facts about the Himalayan Crisis were socially

constructedThose who are in power claim as factsMay 2, 2023 15

Case One cont’dConstruction and Deconstruction of HEDKnowledge is produced in both cases and reproduced

in multiple and complicated waysKnowledge to support or dismantle these discourses

not only socially embedded, but connected with power relations

The theory has transcended issues of SCIENCE properly and entered into the realm of political and economic discourse

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Case Two: Bio-diversity, Conservation and Development in Nepal’s TeraiKatrina Brown (1998): Political Ecology Framework:

Makes inquiry on: contextual sources of environmental changeconflict over access to resourcespolitical ramifications of environmental change

Malthusian and Neo Malthusian theory: given stress on population. Separate people and bio-diversity

BNP excludes people to inhibit inside the park.

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Case Two cont’dPark authorities separated the people from utilizing

forest products: thatch grass, building materials, ropesPromotion of tourismStakeholders widened: local people, park authorities,

tourism entrepreneurs. I/NGOsPolicy options/solutions: “buffer zone” new

conservation paradigmConservation and development as synergistic approachLocal communities has no influence in policy

formulation which influences their lives.

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Case Three: Development as Symbolic Violence? The case of Community Forestry

Dr. Ojha (2006): Democratic and equitable governance in Community Forestry.

Four habitus are key actors:Development habitusTechnocentric habitusFeudal-political habitusFatalistic habitus

First three exercise symbolic violence over the last oneCF practice determined by fatalistic habitus of the local

people and technocratic habitus of the forest officialsMay 2, 2023 19

Case Three cont’d…

Symbolic violence:Development habitus:

Global: HDT to basic needs, “livelihoods” and “forestry” donors projects and NGOsLocal: Forestry in latter priority, privileged groups are getting benefits

Techno-centric habitus: maximize products, elites interests, technical knowledge mismatched with local people needs and interests

Feudal-political habitus: guided by political will rather than public

In some context, dominated know the symbolic violence from dominant but they are compelled to obey the conditions imposed by dominants.

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Case Four: Political Ecology of Social Exclusion: CF case in Nepal Nirmal Kumar B.K.: Ph. D. fellow at KU

Exclusion from CF related structure and process could be perceived as the social exclusion.

CF process: formal institutions: Decision making processBenefit sharing processDistribution of opportunities

Informal institutions:Caste relationsGender relations

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Case Four cont’d

CF Structure:membershipsdecision making bodykey posts

Forest management discourse as knowledge:State to people: Chairman forestry, Committee

forestry, Community forestry to inclusive forestry

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Environment as Present Development DiscourseEnvironment protection as global issueClimate change as cross cutting in naturePresent focus towards climate resilient

developmentDebate and discussions over green economicsChanging environmental policies

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Critique over Sustainable Development Model SD is constrained by continuity for economic growth

that often causes harm to environmentConsumption centered development: excessive

consumption of resourcesIndifferent towards the cultural and normative

dimension of developmentLess attention towards structures of interclass and

international inequalities

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Critique over Sustainable Development Model Does not addresses the implications of internal and

international power structures for the implementation of international agreements, laws and regulations

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Comments, Compliments and Suggestions

Thank You!

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