The Geographies of Political Ecology: After Edward Said

Abstract

This paper offers theoretical reflections on a series of questions raised by the shift in political ecology from the Third World to the First: what precisely constitutes a context for political ecology? How does something come to be a space or region that calls for political ecology? To respond to these questions, I argue for a turn to the thought of Edward Said, who articulates a Gramscian approach to geography that calls into question the constitution of the world.

Understanding traditionalist opposition to modernization: narrative production in a norwegian mountain conflict

“…With the study located in the North, the paper is in line with an emerging trend of bringing political ecology "home" (Wainwright 2005). Until recently, political ecology was seen as a particular perspective on environmental issues that is uniquely relevant in a development context due to the history of colonialization and the widespread poverty in the Third World (Bryant and Bailey 1997).…”

Synergy or marginalisation? Narratives of farming and tourism in Geiranger, western Norway

“…Third, this combination of narrative and discourse analysis takes inspiration from the approach of political ecology, and we aim to explore how this burgeoning field, in especially American geography, can contribute to rural studies in a Scandinavian context. This third aim is in line with an emerging trend of bringing political ecology 'home' (Wainwright 2005). Until recently, political ecology was seen as a particular perspective on environmental issues that is uniquely relevant in a developing context (Bryant & Bailey 1997).…”

Governing Global Land Deals: The Role of the State in the Rush for Land

“…Political ecology is a theoretically eclectic field defined by its concern with the relationship between people and their environments in the broader context of the state and economy (Blaikie and Brookfield, 1987;Robbins, 2004). Although political ecologists are increasingly re-conceptualizing the field, focusing more on developed economies (McCarthy, 2002;Robbins and Sharp, 2003;Walker and Fortmann, 2003; https://repository.uwc.ac.za/ Wainwright, 2005), urban areas (Heynen et al, 2006;Leichenko and Solecki, 2008;Swyngedouw, 2004), and networks, webs and rhizomes (Escobar, 2010;Rocheleau and Roth, 2007), three classical concerns of the literature are relevant to a consideration of land deals and the state. First, the focus on the materiality of production and social reproduction in highly politicized environments helps to illuminate the interconnections between biophysical landscapes and the political economies of development.…”