Conservation Philanthropy and the Shadow of State Power in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Diallo, Rozenn Nakanabo

doi:10.4103/0972-4923.164188

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The article builds on and extends existing literature about philanthropy, capitalism, and conservation, in southern Africa and globally (Diallo 2015;Holmes 2010Holmes , 2012Ramutsindela 2009Ramutsindela , 2015Ramutsindela, Spierenburg, and Wels 2011). Since "the precise means by which philanthropy creates, transforms and mobilizes money, political resources, images and discourses and turns them into conservation practices are unclear" (Holmes 2012: 200), I explore the role of philanthropic tourism activities as an important strategy in this.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Enjoying extinction: philanthrocapitalism, <i>jouissance</i>, and 'excessive environmentourism' in the South African rhino poaching crisis

Koot¹

2021

Journal of Political Ecology

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From 2007 to 2015, rhino poaching grew rapidly in and around Kruger National Park, South Africa. And though poaching numbers have declined since then, the 'poaching crisis' and its consequences continue to influence rhetoric and practice in the area, including continuing public outcries that the rhino is close to extinction. This discourse of extinction is also prevalent among the luxurious tourist lodges on private nature reserves of the Greater Kruger Area that attract wealthy tourists. In response, some lodges started initiatives in which tourists can join the fight against rhino poaching. These tourist activities share important similarities with 'philanthrocapitalism',in which wealthy philanthropists address social and environmental challenges drawing on the same business principles that made them successful. Based on research on the tourism industry, I explore the political ecology of such high-end, 'environmentourist' activities. I argue that philanthropic environmental tourist activities are based on a reductionist articulation of the rhino poaching crisis. They de-politicize it from its socio-economic and historical context and are 'excessive', in that they produce and legitimize exorbitant forms of privatized, luxurious tourism and consumerism as a solution for social and environmental crises. Moreover,such 'excessive environmentourism' allows wealthy tourists to enjoy 'doing good'in a very specific way, best captured by the term 'jouissance.' Jouissance is a particular type of ambivalent enjoyment that includes fascination with dark and horrific elements (i.e. poached rhinos and the idea that these animals are at the brink of extinction). I conclude that jouissance functions as a core motivation for wealthy tourists to engage in touristic experiences precisely because it enables them to believe they can overcome the dark sides of their own excesses ironically by 'doing good', grounded in excessive consumption.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Enjoying extinction: philanthrocapitalism, <i>jouissance</i>, and 'excessive environmentourism' in the South African rhino poaching crisis

Koot¹

2021

Journal of Political Ecology

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“…An increasing number of developing countries perceive tourism as a critical economic sector driving capital inflows supporting development (Connolly et al, 2012; Hannam, 2004; Hazbun, 2008; Sofield, 2003). To the extent that tourism is seen as part of a national development strategy, it becomes a space of state control and state enterprises (Diallo, 2015). As a result, while tourism development may occur in environments with different actors holding different levels of influence (Blackstock, 2005; Hall and Jenkins, 1995; Lenao, 2017; Mushove and Vogel, 2005), states as wielders of authority can exercise power through all levels of tourism (Lenao, 2017).…”

Section: Literature Review and Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tour guides and the transnational promotion of human rights: Agency, structure and norm translators in responsible travel

Liljeblad

2020

Tourist Studies

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Within tourism studies, the movement for ‘responsible tourism’ seeks to direct tourism in support of ideals such as sustainability and human rights. Central to the promotion of such ideals, however, is the tour guide who holds a critical position influencing the orientation of a tourism encounter. This article explores the capacities of tour guides to direct tourism encounters in support of human rights. The analysis draws upon tourism and human rights literature to frame tour guides within the theoretical concept of norm translators. The analysis applies a case study approach to a case of an individual tour guide leading a Vietnam tour package under the employ of a responsible travel company supportive of human rights, with the purpose of clarifying the role of tour guides in promoting human rights and elaborating the theory of norm translators.

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“…In the postwar period, the Mozambican state expanded the overall land area categorized as protected. In doing so, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and biodiversity conservation projects helped extend the state's reach into rural areas, where it lacked a presence and political legitimacy (Diallo 2015;Schafer & Bell 2002). Although the land law protects community land rights, the law makes special provisions for national parks, granting them the highest level of protected status.…”

Section: National Parks and Protected Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of both parks (LNP and GNP), residents affected by the demarcation of park boundaries had little voice in these territorializing processes. Moreover, in both cases, through the re-regulation of space as protected areas, the state and ruling party (with the help of trans-local actors) expanded its bureaucratic reach and its capacity to exert its sovereignty over territory (Lunstrum 2013) to rural areas where it had previously lacked authority, particularly in Gorongosa (Diallo 2015). The use of the land law to expand the boundaries of protected areas at the expense of smallholders' resource rights represents an ongoing challenge to the protection of smallholders' land use and one of the more contradictory effects of the law that is rooted in struggles over recognition, authority, and sovereignty.…”

Section: Gorongosa National Parkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protecting Smallholder Land Rights in Mozambique, 1997–2017: Unfinished Business?

Walker¹

2020

Afr. Stud. Rev.

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Mozambique’s land law is notable for its intent to balance the recognition and protection of smallholder land use rights with attracting foreign and domestic investment to rural areas. However, the state’s legitimacy may be undermined through the process of recognition, as state actors and local elites circumvent the law for private gain. Walker focuses on two areas where the law has failed to protect smallholder rights: issues of women’s land rights, and the expansion of protected areas. These issues speak to the problem of recognition, revealing ways the state produces authority, but not necessarily legitimacy, in rural settings.

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Conservation Philanthropy and the Shadow of State Power in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Cited by 14 publications

References 15 publications

Enjoying extinction: philanthrocapitalism, <i>jouissance</i>, and 'excessive environmentourism' in the South African rhino poaching crisis

Enjoying extinction: philanthrocapitalism, <i>jouissance</i>, and 'excessive environmentourism' in the South African rhino poaching crisis

Tour guides and the transnational promotion of human rights: Agency, structure and norm translators in responsible travel

Protecting Smallholder Land Rights in Mozambique, 1997–2017: Unfinished Business?

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