Society, Environment and Development research cluster events
Workshop: Community-based Action and NRM in an era of Neoliberalism
University of Cambridge, Department of Geography [directions]
Friday June 19, 2009, 10.00 am – 6:00 pm
About the workshop
This workshop will address community-based action and natural resource management (NRM) in the contemporary context, in a period characterised by the spread of 'neoliberal' ideas and policies, especially the inter-related processes of liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation. At the local scale, these political and economic regimes are rapidly changing communities, and altering NRM. These processes pose threats to local communities, natural resources, and community-based NRM. In some areas the promotion of neoliberalism and associated policies has led to: an increase in industrialisation; creation of special economic zones; encouragement of mega-development; commoditisation of natural resources; and has changed governance structures, often empowering private sector companies and/or well-connected NGOs at the expense of local communities. Some communities have opposed how large-scale 'development' and resource extraction projects have led to displacement, altered communal management of resources, and changed local identity and culture. This workshop will explore the challenges, responses and opportunities in relation to these issues.
The workshop will start with a keynote speech by Dr Paul Routledge, University of Glasgow, who will speak on "Transnational solidarity, Food sovereignty and Climate change." Papers at the workshop will cover the following themes:
Governance
- What governance ramifications are there for local communities affected by the political, economic and social changes brought about by neoliberal theory and practice?
- Has neoliberalism influenced how natural resource dependent communities access, use, and control or own resources?
Action and Agency
- What forms of community protest and action (including social movement action) have emerged in response to pressures associated with neoliberalism?
- What challenges of representation and agency arise from local, regional, national and international forms of action?
Market Based Responses
- What challenges arise for communities in relation to trade liberalisation?
- How are market based responses to neoliberalism affecting how communities manage and sell their natural resources?
Workshop organisers
- Bhaskar Vira
- Girija Godbole
- Heather Bedi Plumridge
- Sushil Saigal
Workshop schedule
| 9:30 am – 10:00 am | Welcome Tea and Registration |
| 10:00 am – 10:15 am | Welcome and Workshop Introduction: Bhaskar Vira (University of Cambridge) |
| 10:15 am – 11:00 am | Keynote address: Paul Routledge (University of Glasgow)
Transnational solidarity, Food sovereignty and Climate change |
| 11:00 am – 12:30 pm | Governance challenges: discussant, Bill Adams (University of Cambridge) Catherine Corson (University of Cambridge), Paved with Good Intentions: How Neoliberal Governance Reform has Impeded Community Consultation in Madagascar George Holmes (University of Manchester), Title to be confirmed |
| 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Action and agency: discussant, Sarah Radcliffe (Cambridge) Heather Bedi Plumridge (University of Cambridge), Demanding action from the state: Social movement protest against Industrial Enclaves in India Patrik Oskarsson (University of East Anglia), Why is there so little agency in the Agency? Anti-mining activism on behalf of the grassroots in tribal Andhra Pradesh, India |
| 3:30 pm– 4:00 pm | Tea break |
| 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Market based responses: discussant, Bhaskar Vira (Cambridge) Denis Hellebrandt (University of East Anglia), Sell globally, exploit locally: markets and small-scale fisheries management in Southern Brazil Manuel Navarette (PhD, UCL, London) Direct Investments (FDI) and the Environment: The Right Path to Sustainability? |
| 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Plenary discussion and concluding remarks |
Registration
Registration Fee: £5 (includes lunch and tea during the workshop), payable in cash on day of event
Please e-mail these details to: cbanrm@gmail.com by 12th June, 2009
Community-based Action and Natural Resource Management in an era of neoliberalism
Friday June 19, 2009
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