Week 12 (Environmental Anth & Political Ecology) Flashcards
Environment & Humans
Covers over 12,000 years
- Agriculture had a profound impact on the environment.
- Humans have affected the environment differently
before.
The connection between the environment and the “good life”
- What does it mean to be a human?
- What is the “necessity” for people?
Environmental Anthropology Issues
Anthropocene
Man made changes
Loss of biodiversity
Change in climate
There have been changes in climate before
- 5 major extinctions
- Unprecedented speed in changes
Different Ideologies
M o d e r n i z a t i o n
- I n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n
- M a r k e t e x p a n s i o n
- Te c h n o l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n
G r o w t h - o r i e n t e d D e v e l o p m e n t
- S i m i l a r t o M o d e r n i z a t i o n
- I n v e s t m e n t i n e c o n o m i c g r o w t h
- Tr i c k l e - d o w n e c o n o m i c s .
D i s t r i b u t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t
- S o c i a l e q u i t y
- E n s u r e e q u i t a b l e a c c e s s t o r e s o u r c e s .
Different Ideologies II
Human Development
- Focus on health, education and personal security
Sustainable development
- Use non-renewable resources responsibly.
- Financially and environmentally sustainable
- Do not jeopardize future generations.
Anthropology in Different Ideologies
The environment in the center
- How to transform nature to support the “good life”.
Cultural Anthropology in a unique position.
- Examining how culture acts upon nature
- Understand how the environment shapes culture.
- Cultural/Political Ecology
- Anthropology advocacy.
Cultural Evolution vs. Historical Particularism
Leslie White
- Cultural evolution
- Move from simple to complex societies
- Technological innovation.
Franz Boas.
- Historical Particularism.
- Examine each society as unique.
- Technology & Organizations shaped by society’s history.
Cultural Ecology
Examine cultures usage and understanding of the Environment.
Materialistic in nature
- Cultural practices and beliefs influenced my material
needs.
Homeostasis
- Self-regulation to promote social Stability.
Cultural Ecology II
Roy Rappaport
Tsembaga in Highland New Guinea
Taro, Yams, Sweet potatoes and Pigs.
Periodic ritual feast
- Reach social stability.
Too focused on stability
- Ignored larger factors.
Ethnoecology
Use and knowledge of plants, animals, and ecosystem
Slash and burn vs. Swidden cultivation
Controversial among conservationists
Anthropologists illustrated the appropriateness of Slash and
Burn.
- Under the right condition.
Ethnoecology II
Sub field of ethnobotany
- Examine traditional use of plants for foods, dyes, crafts
and medicine
The ecologically noble savage
- The image of “pristine” nature
- Land Claims and Mapping
Political Ecology
Extension from Cultural ecology
- Responding to criticism of cultural ecology.
- Not power sensitive.
- Ignoring local conflicts and knowledge
Look more closely into science and policy decisions.
- Many layers to every decision
- Challenges one’s position.
- Deforestation in Guinea
- Amazon Rainforest
Challenge the idea of “wilderness”.
Political Ecology II
People vs. Parks debate
Creation of National parks
- Exclude humans to conserve nature.
- Indigenous people in South Dakota and Wyoming.
- Excluding people from traditional activities.
Multispecies Ethnographies
Other animals/beings hold agency
- Relationship between dogs and human
- Roles of bacteria or food on humans.
- Explore how forests or glaciers “think”.
Move away from human centred ethnography.
Eco-justice
Environmental questions from social equality perspective
- Environmental damage.
The Connection between Ecocide and ethnocide
