Codifying and Commodifying Nature: Narratives on Forest Property Rights and the Implementation of Tenure Regularization Policies in Northwestern Argentina
Abstract:Environmental resource management requires negotiation among state and non-state actors with conflicting goals and different levels of influence. In northwestern Argentina, forest policy implementation is described as weak, due to governance structure and ambiguities in the law. We studied how policy actors’ attitudes and their positions in the forest governance network relate to the implementation of land tenure regularization in a context where land tenure regularization is at the core of struggles over envi… Show more
“…This draws from research on deforestation in Argentina as presented by Inguaggiato et al (2021a;2021b). To consider all dimensions of deforestation entities with agency, such as sociopolitical actors and entities without agency, such as the ecosystem, have to be considered interdependent in their duality (Breiger, 1974) in a model where ties within and between modes would ideally be examined in tandem.…”
Section: Network Theories and Power Concepts Related To Resiliencementioning
Resilience can be broadly defined as the capacity of a system to recover quickly after a shock. Given that shocks such as natural disasters or political regime change can fundamentally affect political systems, the concept of resilience can be important in this context. We conceptualize political systems as political networks consisting of several interconnected political actors tackling issues on the political agenda. We investigate here political networks' ability to recover from shocks. To do so, we first identify different types of shocks that have the ability to impact political networks. Second, we review the literature on resilience and discuss concepts related to political resilience. Third, we outline network measures and models able to capture the reaction of a political network to a shock, so that we can operationalize the level of resilience of such a system. Throughout the text, we illustrate our theoretical concepts with selected case studies and empirical examples. We conclude that the accurate measurement of political networks is contingent on the valid capture of change following a shock. We must recall that a resilient political network does not have to exhibit the same structure ex post, but would have to be able to perform the same functions to be considered resilient. We conclude by outlining pathways to future research.
“…This draws from research on deforestation in Argentina as presented by Inguaggiato et al (2021a;2021b). To consider all dimensions of deforestation entities with agency, such as sociopolitical actors and entities without agency, such as the ecosystem, have to be considered interdependent in their duality (Breiger, 1974) in a model where ties within and between modes would ideally be examined in tandem.…”
Section: Network Theories and Power Concepts Related To Resiliencementioning
Resilience can be broadly defined as the capacity of a system to recover quickly after a shock. Given that shocks such as natural disasters or political regime change can fundamentally affect political systems, the concept of resilience can be important in this context. We conceptualize political systems as political networks consisting of several interconnected political actors tackling issues on the political agenda. We investigate here political networks' ability to recover from shocks. To do so, we first identify different types of shocks that have the ability to impact political networks. Second, we review the literature on resilience and discuss concepts related to political resilience. Third, we outline network measures and models able to capture the reaction of a political network to a shock, so that we can operationalize the level of resilience of such a system. Throughout the text, we illustrate our theoretical concepts with selected case studies and empirical examples. We conclude that the accurate measurement of political networks is contingent on the valid capture of change following a shock. We must recall that a resilient political network does not have to exhibit the same structure ex post, but would have to be able to perform the same functions to be considered resilient. We conclude by outlining pathways to future research.
The critical impact of humans on the biosphere has led scientists to coin the term Anthropocene. The global environmental changes associated with it are happening under the aegis of capitalism. A transition towards sustainability requires a critical scrutiny of capitalism. The social–ecological system (SES) approach conceptualises the relationship between the socio-economic subsystem and the biosphere. However, in its various operationalisations it either treats the former as a black box or it fails to capture dynamic aspects. We address these limits and develop a Dialectical Socio-Ecological System (D-SES) framework, which combines process ecology with historical materialism, to describe the emergence and persistence of capitalist dynamics. We draw on data collected through fieldwork and desk research and deploy our framework to study capital-intensive agriculture in the Chaco Salteño, an important agricultural frontier in South America, obtaining some general insights. We open up the socio-economic subsystem and break it down into a lower-level material/economic sphere and an upper-level cultural/institutional sphere. Capitalist dynamics emerge out of the peculiar relationships occurring both within and between these spheres. This configuration shows the typical signs of autocatalysis. It attracts resources and capital to expand itself (centripetality). It becomes more complex and organised over time, fine-tuning production modes, cultures, and institutions (directionality). It is subject to the laws of competition and profit maximisation, which emerge independently from the individual actors and processes making up the system (autonomy). Finally, it engenders frictions, reflecting class antagonism between the direct producers and the appropriators of wealth. These frictions can become leverage points for a system’s transformation.
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