In the past decade international and national environmental policy action have been dominated by issues generally defined as global problems. this article, we identify major discourses associated with four issues: deforestation, desertification, biodiversity use climate change. These are analysed in terms of their messages, narrative structures prescriptions. We find striking parallels nature structure illegibility at local scale. each areas there is a management discourse representing...

This article shows how wildlife and marine conservation in Tanzania lead to forms of 'green' or 'blue grabbing'. Dispossession local people's land resources has been gradual piecemeal some cases, while it involved violence other cases. It does not primarily take the usual form privatization land. The spaces are still formally state village is rather benefits from natural that contribute capital accumulation by more powerful actors (rent-seeking officials, transnational organizations, tourism...

While climate change scenarios for the Sahel vary and are uncertain, most popularized prediction says there will progressively be drier conditions with more erratic rainfall. According to some, an increase in violent conflicts over scarce resources should also expected. This article investigates climate–conflict nexus detail, focusing on a distinct area at heart of Sahel, inland delta Niger river Mopti region Mali. Two complementary analytical approaches applied. The first consists...

Since 2015 jihadist groups have taken control of the Mopti region in central Mali. We ask how such a radical development has been possible country previously praised as bulwark against Islam Africa. While dominant literature on crisis Mali focused global political economic developments and international thinking organisation relate to national dynamics, we take materialist ecology approach explain current situation. By focusing micro-politics two land-use conflicts these are affected by...

ABSTRACT Farmer–herder conflicts in Africa are often presented as being driven by ‘environmental scarcity’. Political ecologists, however, argue that these should be analysed within a broader historical and policy context. This article presents case study of local conflict the Kilosa District Tanzania tragically culminated killing thirty‐eight farmers on 8 December 2000. To understand conflict, authors it is necessary to history villagization land use District, well national tenure pastoral...

This study aims to explain a farmer–herder conflict in the inland Niger delta of Mali. We focus on interests and motivations actors involved rent seeking local administration handling conflict. Since independence, customary pastoral leaders (the jowros ) have gradually lost power wealth benefit previously underprivileged farmers rimaybé ). argue that this process is mainly result national policies laws giving priority agricultural development at expense pastoralism. The has been large‐scale...

Power plays a key role in definitions of political ecology. Likewise, empirical studies within this field tend to provide detailed presentations various uses power, involving corporate and conservation interventions influencing access land natural resources. The results include struggle conflict. Yet, there is lack theoretical elaboration showing how power may be understood In article, we start fill gap by reviewing the different perspectives on that have dominated field. There are...

Earlier research that reports a correlational pattern between climate anomalies and violent conflict routinely refers to drought-induced agricultural shocks adverse economic spillover effects as key causal mechanism linking the two phenomena. Comparing half century of statistics on variability, food production, political violence across Sub-Saharan Africa, this study offers most precise theoretically consistent empirical assessment date purported indirect relationship. The analysis reveals...

According to the influential `environmental security' literature, supply-induced scarcity in form of environmental degradation is a key driver civil violence around world. African drylands, especially Sahel region, are allegedly among areas most seriously affected by this development. Views desertification and severe held security scholars, despite comprehensive literature questioning such ideas that has been published since late 1980s. Instead being steadily transformed towards more...

ABSTRACT Despite a decade of rhetoric on community conservation, current trends in Tanzania reflect disturbing process reconsolidation state control over wildlife resources and increased rent‐seeking behaviour, combined with dispossession communities. Whereas the 1998 Wildlife Policy promoted participation local benefits, subsequent policy 2007 Conservation Act 2009 returned income from sport hunting safari tourism to central government. These trends, which sometimes include use violence...

Environmental justice (EJ) and political ecology (PE) have grown during recent decades to become leading critical approaches socio-environmental analyses. The two fields share a history of pluralism an openness integrating new theoretical insights. Based on work by philosophers in the radical tradition – such as Fraser, Young Honneth 'radical environmental framework' has been established within EJ, focusing three core elements: distributive justice, recognition procedural justice. Later,...

Many incidents of elephant killings have recently taken place in Tanzania as well other African countries. Such events are usually presented results the rising global demand for ivory. As we show this case study, however, not all violence against elephants is driven by ivory trade. This article presents an event that occurred West Kilimanjaro 2009 when numerous villagers chased a herd over cliff, killing six them. Using 'web relations' approach, seek to uncover underlying immediate factors...

'Green economy' is a broad concept open to different interpretations, definitions and practices ranging from the greening of current neoliberal economies radical transformations these economies. In Africa, one emerging powerful idea in implementation green economy seems be use agenda further strengthen development as modernization through capital-intensive land investments. This has again reinvigorated old debates about large-scale versus smallholder agriculture. Influential actors justify...

The implementation of the green economy in Tanzania is currently re-arranging space significant ways. Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor (SAGCOT) has been presented by government as well investors and aid donors a model for Africa combining investments large-scale farming with environmental conservation. Kilombero valley centrally situated within SAGCOT become national hotspot land-use conflicts. dominated an expanding sector agricultural capital combined substantial increase areas under...

Given a history in political ecology of challenging hegemonic "scientific" narratives concerning environmental problems, the current moment presents potent conundrum: how to (continue to) critically engage with change while confronting "populist" promotion "alternative facts." We ask ecologists might situate themselves vis-à-vis presently growing power contemporary authoritarian forms, highlighting latter operates through sociopolitical domains and beyond-human natures. argue for clear...

Violent clashes between Fulani and Dogon have recently escalated in the Seeno plains central Mali. After failing to defeat a "jihadist" insurgency dominated by Fulani, Malian army has sponsored trained militia, which systematically attacked villages, again caused counterattacks. In addition, internal conflicts within society emerged. This demonstrates complexities of current crisis Mali how simplistic narratives about its causes are unhelpful. It also shows views enemy as "terrorists" or...

Anthropogenic climate change is commonly characterized as a threat to human security. However, the extent which and under what conditions impacts responses may produce severe risks peace have seen less systematically assessment date. This essay provides conceptual discussion of entail how such might be considered severe, acknowledging that perceptions, values, social scale must grappled with in identification severity. Informed by available empirical research, then explores climate-related...

La political ecology est une approche qui se trouve au cœur des études sur l'environnement et le développement a connu expansion extraordinaire depuis 10 à 15 ans. L'objet ce cet article de fournir un bref aperçu en français champ réflexion. Cette analyse essentiellement pouvoir les luttes pour matière gestion l'environnement. Ceci rend nécessaire concentrer divers acteurs intérêts qu'ils défendent. Combinant clarifications termes valeurs transparence empirique, l'approche s'érige héritière...

Environmental conservation in Africa is predominantly presented by key actors terms of a win–win discourse involving community participation and benefits. By using two case studies from Tanzania South Africa, we demonstrate how the practices observed do not fit discourse, but are more line with 'fortress conservation' that previously dominated both practice. The Tanzanian shows may be associated recentralization instead devolution economic marginalization poverty alleviation. African...

Protected areas now encompass nearly 13 percent of Earth's terrestrial surface. Crucially, such protection often denotes exclusion – farmers, pastoralists and forest-dwelling people. Engaging with the biopolitical implications these displacements, this paper explores emergence an increasingly widespread type resistance to conservation in developing world: guerrilla agriculture, or illicit cultivation food within spaces zoned exclusively for preservation nonhuman life. In doing so, it...