This book explores the interconnections between world politics and non-human nature to overcome the anthropocentric boundaries that characterize the field of international relations. By gathering contributions from various perspectives, ranging from post-humanism and ecological modernization, to new materialism and post-colonialism, it conceptualizes the embeddedness of world politics in non-human nature, and proposes a reorientation of political practice to better address the challenges posed by climate change and the deterioration of the Earth’s ecosystems.
The book is divided into two main parts, the first of which addresses new ways of theoretically conceiving the relationship between non-human nature and world politics. In turn, the second presents empirical investigations into specific case studies, including studies on state actors and international organizations and bodies. Given its scope and the new perspectives it shares, this edited volume represents a uniquely valuable contribution to the field.
Author(s): Joana Castro Pereira, André Saramago
Series: Frontiers in International Relations
Publisher: Springer International
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 353
Contents
Introduction: Embracing Non-Human Nature in World Politics
Introduction
References
Theoretical Investigations
The End of Normal Politics: Assemblages, Non-Humans and International Relations
Introduction
Autogeddon: The Price of Automobility
Brexit
Climate Crisis
Conclusion: An Assemblage Politics
References
Across Species and Borders: Political Representation, Ecological Democracy and the Non-Human
Introduction
Just One Political Animal? Modes of Exclusion
Ecological Citizens? Visions of Non-Human Inclusion
Posthuman Representation: A Materialism of Shared Worlds
Visions of Transnational Ecological Democracy: Governing with the Non-Human
References
A Quantum Anthropocene? International Relations Between Rupture and Entanglement
Introduction
The Anthropocene as Rupture
The Anthropocene as Entanglement
Conclusion
References
Ecologies of Globalization: Mountain Governance and Multinatural Planetary Politics
Introduction
Mountains in Environmental Governance
What are Mountains?
The Greater Kailash Transboundary Region: A Case Study
Routes
Conclusion
References
Conflicting Temporalities and the Ecomodernist Vision of Rewilding
Introduction
The Terms of the Debate
Love Your Monsters
Learning in the Anthropocene
Ever Higher Stakes
Conclusion
References
Elias in the Anthropocene: Human Nature, Evolution and the Politics of the Great Acceleration
Introduction
The Sociology of Knowledge, Evolutionary Sequence and Big History
Elias on Human Nature, ‘Second Nature’ and Non-Human Nature
The Great Evolution
Human Nature, ‘Second Nature’ and the Rest of Nature
The Society of Individuals, Survival Units and the Interiorization of the Self: Elias, Lévy-Bruhl and Ong
Rationalization, Disenchantment and Problems of Meaning: Elias and Barfield
The Paradox of Civilization and the Great Acceleration
The Process of Civilization and Ecological Integrity
An Ecological Civilizing Process?
Avoiding the Ecological Sword of Damocles
Conclusion: Eco-Modernization, Degrowth and (Supra)National World Order
References
Empirical Investigations
Anthropocentrisation and Its Discontents in Indonesia: Indigenous Communities, Non-Human Nature and Anthropocentric Political–Economic Governance
Introduction
The Modern State and Anthropocentrisation
The VOC and the Exploitation of the Non-Human Nature
Colonial State-Building: Territorialisation and Control Over People and Nature
The Postcolonial State, Developmentalism and Further Institutionalisation of Anthropocentrism
Fragmentation, Decentralisation and Internationalisation: Stronger Resistance, Stronger Pressure
Concluding Remarks: The Contest Continues
References
Ecological Civilization: The Political Rhetoric of “Marxism with Chinese Characteristics”
Introduction: The Potential of Rhetorical Marxism for Environmental Policy
Ecological Civilization
The Legacy of Marxism in China
China’s Drive for Political and Cultural Superiority
China’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
The Implementation of Ecological Civilization so Far
Conclusion
References
America First: The Trump Effect on Climate Change Policy
Introduction
The U.S. Commitment to Curbing Climate Change: The History of a Laggard
The Trump Administration’s Attack on Science
The Suppression of Science and Science-Based Findings
The Politicization of Science
Trump’s Reversal of Obama-Era Climate Change Policies
Sub-National and Civil Society Actors as Protagonists in the Service of Protecting the Planet
Conclusion
References
Rights of Nature in the European Union: Contemplating the Operationalization of an Eco-Centric Concept in an Anthropocentric Environment?
Introduction
Rights of Nature: What, Where, When and How?
Not Such a Novel Idea, After All?
Rights, Standing and Legal Remedies
Guardians at Work
Inherent Obstacles, Limited Effectiveness and Recurring Criticism
Interim Conclusion
The Interplay Between the EU Legal Order and Rights of Nature: An Environmental Frontrunner, in Word and Practice?
The EU as a Self-Declared Environmental Frontrunner?
A More Ambivalent Practice?
Procedural and Substantive Obstacles: No Standing for Nature and Climate, After All?
No Explicit Recognition of Rights of Nature in the EU Treaties
Procedural Impediments and Unexpected Opportunities: Can EU’s Endangered Nature Be Represented Before Court?
Substantive Flaws and Deficiencies: Going Beyond Legal Formalism, Protecting Ecological Integrity in the EU?
Interim Conclusion
Sparks of Hope: Promising Recent Jurisprudential Evolutions as New Pathways?
The Legal Teeth of the Precautionary Principle as a Progressive Starting Point
The Integrity of EU-Protected Nature Partly Preserved
A Restoration Imperative, with Legal Teeth?
Nature Trumps Vested Interests
Interim Conclusion
Avenues to the Future: A New Directive, Treaty Modification or National Legislation?
A Rights of Nature Directive: A Tempting yet Unpersuasive Quick Legal Fix
Amending the EU Treaties: Balancing Between Theory and Pragmatism
National Legislation and Litigation: The Ultimate Lever
Conclusion and Outlook
References
The European Union’s Diplomacy: Protecting Non-Human Nature?
Introduction
Analytical Framework
The EU’s Internal Environmental Regime
EU Diplomacy and the Protection of Non-Human Nature
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Arctic Environmental Governance
Comparative Summary
EU Diplomacy and Non-Human Nature: Effects
EU Institutional Effectiveness
EU Ecological Effectiveness
Conclusion
References
Trust and the WWF in the Arctic
Introduction
The Project and Data Collection
The Interconnectedness of Trust and Networks
The WWF and Its Global Arctic Programme
WWF: An Overview
Working with WWF: Reflections from Arctic State Officials
Conclusion
References
A Typology of Direct Action at Sea
Introduction
Direct Action
Conducting Direct Action at Sea
Applications of Direct Action at Sea
Traditional Direct Action
Service Provision
Direct Enforcement
Types of Direct Enforcement
Activist-State Relations
Acquiescence and Antipathy
Concurrence
Collaboration
Conclusion
References
The IPBES Conceptual Framework: Enhancing the Space for Plurality of Knowledge Systems and Paradigms
Introduction
Environmental Knowledge, Production and Change: Setting the Context for IPBES
IPBES Conceptual Framework: An Overview
Plurality and Values Underlying Environmental Knowledge
Expose to Transform: Deep Leverage
Enhancing Plurality: Four Concepts
The Framework: Achievements and Persistent Weaknesses
Achievements
Persistent Weaknesses
The ‘Third Space’: Radical Reflection and the Transcending of Paradigms
Conclusions
References
Concluding Discussion: The Planetary Is Not the End of the International
Situating Anthropocentric IR
Is the Planet Obscuring the International?
A Materialist International
Final Remarks
References
