Traversing more than speed bumps: Green politics under authoritarian regimes in Burma and Iran

The coming of environmental authoritarianism

“…This merits emphasis because for some writers rational, informed discourse is central to sustainable environmental management and the resolution of the competing interests that inevitably surround it (Hamilton and Wills-Toker 2006). And yet, as the very limited number of studies that actually examine environmental politics under authoritarian rule demonstrate, the reality is very different and the prospects for the development of progressive politics are very limited (Doyle and Simpson 2006). Even if we assume that political circumstances do actually allow for a politically unconstrained and informed discussion of complex issues, as Arias-Maldonado (2007, p. 248) points out, 'the belief that citizens in a deliberative context will spontaneously acquire ecological enlightenment, and will push for greener decisions, relies too much on an optimistic, naive view of human nature, so frequently found in utopian political movements'.…”

The Politics of Marketising Asia

“…The first group, comprised of ethnic villagers, currently faces risks of increased insecurities due to major projects that are undertaken with the involvement of TNCs from China and elsewhere in Asia with little or no social or environmental assessment. These insecurities include serious risks such as forced labour, systematic rape and sexual assault, land confiscation, summary execution and torture (Lintner 1999;Smith 1999;Doyle and Simpson 2006;KWO 2007;Simpson 2007;AAPPB 2011). Although forced labour has historically been ubiquitous on major projects in ethnic areas, as noted above there have been no reports to the ILO of forced labour in the EWEC corridor.…”

Located locally, disseminated nationally: the Bergama movement

“…They can link local environmental grievances to broader issues such as the environmental costs of economic development in general (Ekins 1992;Kousis 1997), environmentally harmful operations of transnational companies (Doyle 2004), environmental costs of productivism (Franquemagne 2007), nationalism (Barcena et al 2003;Garavan 2007), democracy (della Porta and Piazza 2007), and so on. 2 Although it is asserted by some scholars that such an 'issue expansion' is seen particularly in those local movements that emerge in the South (Haynes 1999;della Porta and Rucht 2002;Doyle 2004;Doyle and Simpson 2006), some studies (della Porta and Piazza 2007;Franquemagne 2007;Garavan 2007) indicate that it is also seen in those local movements emerging in the North. As a local campaign articulates broader issues along with the local ones, it takes different meanings at different levels, referring to a specific environmental problem at the local level and questioning the broader political and economic structures at the national and even transnational levels (Gordon and Jasper 1996;Gould et al 1996;Rootes 1999).…”