Terraforming and Eco-Economics in the Mars Trilogy

2019 ◽  
pp. 78-111
Author(s):  
Robert Markley
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
State Violence ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Autopoietic Systems ◽  
Complex Relationships ◽  
Ecological Stewardship ◽  
Default Assumption ◽  
Competing Populations

In Red Mars (1992), Green Mars (1993), and Blue Mars (1996), Robinson uses the speculative science of terraforming an alien world to explore the complex relationships between planetary ecology--the interlocking, autopoietic systems that allow life to flourish--and political economy, the distribution of scarce resources among competing populations and interests. At the center of the trilogy lies what Robinson calls “eco-economics,” his challenge to the default assumption that economics means the exploitation, degradation, and eventual exhaustion of natural resources. Terraforming transforms Mars over the course of the three novels and becomes a means to imagine the birth of a new planetary order that confronts head-on the obstacles to utopian progress: socioeconomic conflict, environmental degradation, racial and religious antagonisms, state violence, and corporate greed. As it undergoes its sea-change from red to green to blue, Mars offers its citizens (and the novels’ readers) a means to imagine a utopian future that replaces the politics of scarcity and desperation with hard-won forms of cooperation, ecological stewardship, democracy, and diversity.

The Politics of the Environment in Singapore? Lessons from a "Strange" Case

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. S. Goh
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Environmental Politics ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Developmental States

AbstractSoutheast Asia has come under scholarly focus for the contradictions of rapid development and environmental protection, and the ensuing politics. Most give Singapore a miss because it is a "strange" case that does not fit into a region where affected local peoples, "middle class" activists and developmental states struggle over the exploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation. This paper claims that analysis of the "quiet" politics of environment in Singapore is instructive, and can correct the materialist bias evident in the understanding of Southeast Asian political economy/ecology. It argues that urban "middle class" environmental activism is a manifestation of resistance to enlarging systems of governance allied with capital. Environmentalism can be seen as a response against the encroachment of the system into the intimate living places of the lifeworld. This response is embedded within an international public sphere that enables environmental politics. These activists derive their motivation and political strength from public moral discursive actions. Environmentalism is a contemporary reflection of a fundamental sociological theme, the discontents' moral struggle for the good society, not necessarily reflecting parochial class interests.

scholarly journals Elinor Ostrom: proving the effectiveness of collective action in management (the Noble Prize in Economics in 2009 “for research in the field of economic organization”)

2017 ◽  
pp. 127-139
Author(s):  
Oksana Shymanska
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Human Organization ◽  
The Government

The article substantiates Elinor Ostrom’s contribution to the theory of collective management of property. The author outlines solutions to problems of the most optimal use of scarce natural resources and their economically relevant preservation in a long-term perspective. The research paper affirms the idea that it is not only the government who can solve the problem of efficient use of resources for public purposes. It is proved that collective decisions can be made in the management of resources, under which the latter are maintained in good conditions while being used for general public. The most accepted models (‘the tragedy of the commons’, ‘the prisoner’s dilemma’, ‘the logic of collective action’) are examined. The above- mentioned models are frequently used as tools to study cases of economic policy-making in allocating scarce resources for public purposes, and as a concept for analyzing problems of individuals who seek to achieve collective benefits. It is emphasized that there is a need for a balanced application of the above models as metaphors, which substitute solid foundations of the economic policy, since the limitations suggested for easing the analysis are accepted without reservation as permanent empirical requirements that remain as such until adjustments are made by the government. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of developing the theory of human organization based on realistic assessments of human possibilities and limitations that arise when a number of various situations related to using public goods are to be resolved. It is stressed that the empirically supported theories of human organization as an important component of study on economic policy are able to complement the solutions with estimates of the most likely effect of using many ways of organizing human activities. It is concluded that E. Ostrom’s experimental research in the field of natural resources management can be used to solve large-scale range of issues related to the production of public goods.

scholarly journals Gainful game, set-up, cyberworld

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Eldred
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Market Economy ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Philosophical Orientation ◽  
Essential Nature ◽  
Critical Insight ◽  
Set Up

There is a critique of capitalist market economy that consists in claiming not only that capitalist social relations are uncaring and alienating, nor only exploitative of the working class, but that the process of capitalist economy as a whole is a way of living, today globalized, that has gotten out of hand. Its essential nature is unmasked as a senseless circular movement that, besides ruthlessly exploiting natural resources, demeans human being itself and alienates it from the historical alternative of a purportedly authentic mode of human being rooted in collective, solidaric subjectivity. The present article offers an alternative hermeneutic cast for understanding capitalism as the gainful game that can serve as philosophical orientation in fighting for a free and fair social interplay in which the powers and abilities of free individuals are appropriately and reciprocally estimated and esteemed. This requires, first and foremost, seeing through the fetishisms inherent in the valorization of reified value that the mature Marx identified in his critiques of political economy as the essential nature of capitalism. Such critical insight is necessary for orientation also in today’s predicament of the ever more encroaching and ensnaring cyberworld.

scholarly journals Nature value: the evolution of this concept

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
Sabrina Soares da Silva ◽  
Ricardo Pereira Reis ◽  
Patrícia Aparecida Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Environment Management ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
The Impact

More attention has been paid to environmental matters in recent years, mainly due to the current scenario of accentuated environmental degradation. The economic valuation of nature goods can contribute to the decision-making process in environment management, generating a more comprehensive informational base. This paper aims to present, in a historic perspective, the different concepts attributed to nature goods and were related to the current predominant perspectives of nature analyses. For this purpose, this paper presents the different concepts attributed to value since the pre-classical period, when nature were viewed as inert and passive providers of goods and services, this view legitimized nature's exploration without concern over the preservation and conservation of nature. The capacity of nature to absorb the impact of human action appears to be reaching its limit, considering the irreversibility, the irreproducibility and the possibility of collapse. The appropriate method for valuing natural resources is not known, but more important than the method is to respect and incorporate the particular characteristics of the nature goods into this process. These characteristics must be valuated in order to arrive at a more consistence approach to nature value and promote sustainability.

scholarly journals Diagnóstico físico-conservacionista do ambiente cárstico da bacia do córrego Cana-brava, Aurora do Tocantins (TO, Brasil) / Physical diagnostic-conservationist of karstic environment of watershed Cana-brava river, Aurora do Tocantins (TO, Brasil)

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (52) ◽  
pp. 244
Author(s):  
Zuleide Alves Ferreira ◽  
Fernando De Morais
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Actual Situation ◽  
Environmental Preservation ◽  
Karst Environment ◽  
Renewable Natural Resources ◽  
Physical Degradation ◽  
Karst Terrains ◽  
Karstic Environment

<p>Atualmente, é possível constatar um crescente aumento da degradação do meio, o qual está relacionado ao desenvolvimento das atividades humanas. Os terrenos cársticos são ambientes muito frágeis, isso porque o sistema hidrológico cárstico é altamente vulnerável à poluição em decorrência de suas características físicas de drenagem predominantemente vertical e ausência de camadas que filtram a água antes de sua chegada aos aquíferos. Diante disso, o principal objetivo do presente trabalho consistiu em realizar, mediante adaptações necessárias, o diagnóstico físico-conservacionista do ambiente cárstico da bacia do córrego Cana-brava, inserida nos municípios de Aurora do Tocantins e Lavandeira, visando contribuir para um melhor conhecimento do carste no estado do Tocantins, além de servir como suporte à elaboração de diretrizes e estratégias de ação voltadas à preservação ambiental da área de estudo. A metodologia do diagnóstico físico-conservacionista busca diagnosticar a situação real em que se encontram os recursos naturais renováveis em um determinado espaço geográfico e fornece indicativos concretos para o manejo e uso racional de recursos naturais renováveis da bacia hidrográfica. Os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa apontam a eficiência no uso da metodologia do diagnóstico físico-conservacionista para o ambiente cárstico, uma vez que esta atendeu ao objetivo proposto que consistiu em mensurar o potencial de degradação física de uma bacia hidrográfica, mesmo estando situada em um ambiente cárstico.</p><p><strong>Palavras-chave:</strong> carste, degradação ambiental, bacia hidrográfica.</p><p><strong>Abstract </strong></p><p>Currently it is possible to note a growing increase in the degradation of the environment, which is mainly related to the development of human activities. The karst terrains are environments very fragile, because the hydrological karstic system is highly vulnerable to pollution, due to its physical characteristics of drainage predominantly vertical and absence of layers that filter the water before their arrival to aquifers. In addition, the main objective of this work was to be done through necessary adjustments, the physical diagnostic-conservationist of karstic environment of watershed Cana-brava river, in the municipalities of Aurora do Tocantins and Lavandeira, aiming to contribute to a better understanding of karst in the State of Tocantins, in addition to serving as a support for the development of guidelines and strategies for action targeted at the environmental preservation of the study area. The methodology of physical diagnostic-conservationist (DFC) search diagnose the actual situation of renewable natural resources in a given geographical area and provides concrete indicative for the management and rational use of renewable natural resources of the watershed. The results obtained in this study indicate that the efficiency in the use of the methodology of physical diagnostic-conservationist for the karstic environment, once this methodology has met the objective proposed that consisted in measuring the potential of physical degradation of a watershed, although it is located in a karst environment.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> karst, environmental degradation, watershed.</p>

Resource conflict and the environment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Emerson ◽  
Hussein Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Resource Abundance ◽  
Resource Conflict ◽  
Security Challenge ◽  
And Control ◽  
Two Sides

Resource conflict and environmental degradation are in reality two-sides of the same security challenge coin. Both address the issue of natural resource abundance and scarcity and how societies deal with these challenges and their implications, but from vastly different perspectives. While the first addresses access and control over existing natural resources in terms of resource competition, the second addresses the environmental impact of declining or the misuse of resources. Regardless of the perspective, however, both present a serious threat to African peace and stability through their ability to generate and sustain violent conflict, fuel corruption or undermine governance. Moreover, some of these types of conflicts are the most difficult to resolve given the life or death nature of the stakes involved for individuals and entire communities.

9. Natural resources, security, and conflicts

2020 ◽  
pp. 293-317
Author(s):  
Jean-Frédéric Morin ◽  
Amandine Orsini ◽  
Sikina Jinnah
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Environmental Security ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Environmental Resources ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
State Security ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter discusses the relationship between the environment and security. The concept of ‘environmental security’ is omnipresent, but is nonetheless ambiguous and contested. What exactly needs to be secured, and what are the security threats? Is environmental security about state security, faced with the loss of natural resources? Or is it about protecting individuals and communities from environmental degradation and reduced access to key environmental resources? A first step in clarifying these questions is to disentangle two related but distinct causal arguments. In the relationship between environment and security, environmental degradation can be analysed either as a cause or as a consequence of security issues. A second step needed to clarify these debates is to adopt clear definitions. In the context of international relations, security has traditionally been understood in relation to the survival of the state, and the main threats to state security are armed conflicts. For the purpose of this chapter, conflicts are defined as any type of disagreement. The chapter also examines the impact of conflicts on the environment.

Russia, the Rent-Seeking Revisionist

2020 ◽  
pp. 81-124
Author(s):  
Jonathan N. Markowitz
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Theoretical Prediction ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Rent Seeking ◽  
Force Structure ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Arctic State ◽  
Ruling Elites ◽  
Military Activity

Chapter 5 focuses on how Russia, the most land-oriented Arctic littoral state, responded to the shock. This chapter analyzes how Russia’s political economy has influenced its foreign policy preferences. Specifically, this chapter illuminates how Russia’s economy and ruling elites came to depend on income from natural resources. This dependence drove Russia’s rulers to have a stronger interest in securing control over resource-rich territory, which, in turn, explains why they dramatically increased their Arctic military presence following the shock. The chapter chronicles Russia’s dual-track policy of simultaneously pursuing its claims through international institutions and gunboat diplomacy. These findings reveal that Russia invested more in increasing its Arctic military activity and force structure than any other Arctic state. This chapter affirms the book’s core theoretical prediction: the more economically dependent states are on natural resources, the stronger their interest in securing control over additional resources.

Environmental degradation: The urgency of socio-historical contextualisation and the contribution of non-hegemonic perspectives

2020 ◽  
pp. 147821032096500
Author(s):  
Renato Crioni ◽  
Vânia Gomes Zuin
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Surplus Value ◽  
Cultural Form ◽  
Historical Contextualisation ◽  
Empirical Record

This article aims to discuss the issue of environmental degradation based on understanding the material foundation of modern socialisation, which in capitalism is centred on the production of surplus value. This topic is justified by the hegemonic way in which the environmental issue is currently addressed: the inevitability of environmental degradation considering a supposed historical march towards the progress of humanity, to the detriment of natural resources. The argument put forth is that effective environmental education depends on proper contextualisation of the capitalist process. Central to this discussion is an ideological understanding of the neutrality of science and the assumption of the inevitable ongoing environmental degradation considering a presumed population explosion and pursuit of human well-being. Thus, alternative historical-cultural forms are sought to address the tensions that emerge between humanity and nature, or culture and nature, divided into the origin of the hegemonic cultural form consolidated in late modernity. Levi-Strauss’ work is taken here as an accurate historical-empirical record, namely the Nambikwara people of the Brazilian Midwest in the context of the 1930s. The referential used in this article seeks to articulate science education and environmental education with the critical theory.

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