Political Ecology Exam Review Questions
With Correct Answers
A relativist may say that...
| | | |
all beliefs, truths, and facts are constructed in a particular social context
| | | | | | | | | | |
What is the threat of relativism?
| | | | |
A relativist argues that everything is a social construction, so what's
| | | | | | | | | | |
true?
Theory of Co-Production
| |
humans and the environment co-change each other
| | | | | |
A social constructivist...
| |
examines how beliefs, values, and practices shape how people
| | | | | | | | |
understand
Political Ecology |
Seeks to understand how politics and society shape environmental
| | | | | | | | |
problems. Traces the power. Provides a normative approach. Is critical of
| | | | | | | | | |
simple, apolitical characterizations of complex social-environmental
| | | | | | |
relationships.
Political ecology attempts to do two things at once
| | | | | | | |
1) critically explaining what is wrong with dominant accounts of
| | | | | | | | | |
environmental change (ie. why they do not work, why they are partial
| | | | | | | | | | | |
, explanations) 2) explores alternatives, adaptations, and creative human
| | | | | | | |
action in the face of mismanagement and exploitation
| | | | | | |
Apolitical ecology |
Blames proximate and local forces, rather than identifying broader
| | | | | | | | |
political-economic systems at work; views ecological systems as absent | | | | | | | | |
of power; claims an objectivity over science and observation, rather
| | | | | | | | | |
than acknowledging one's own position and bias.
| | | | | |
Degradation and Marginalization Thesis | | |
Explains environmental conditions and their reason for change.
| | | | | | | |
Environmental degradation, long blamed on marginal people, is show in
| | | | | | | | | |
its larger political and economic context.
| | | | |
Conservation and control thesis | | |
Explains conservation outcomes (especially failure). Usually viewed as
| | | | | | | |
benign, efforts at environmental conservation are shown to have
| | | | | | | | |
pernicious effects, and sometimes fail as a result.
| | | | | | |
Environmental conflict and exclusion | | |
Explains Access to the environment and conflicts over exclusion from it
| | | | | | | | | | |
(especially natural resources. Environmental conflicts are shown to be
| | | | | | | | |
part of larger gendered, classed, and raced struggles, and vice versa.
| | | | | | | | | | |
Environmental subjects and identity thesis | | | |
Explains Identities of people and social groups (especially new or
| | | | | | | | | |
emerging ones). Political identities and social struggles are shown to be
| | | | | | | | | | |
linked to basic issues of livelihood and environmental activity.
| | | | | | | | |
Political objects and actors thesis
| | | |
With Correct Answers
A relativist may say that...
| | | |
all beliefs, truths, and facts are constructed in a particular social context
| | | | | | | | | | |
What is the threat of relativism?
| | | | |
A relativist argues that everything is a social construction, so what's
| | | | | | | | | | |
true?
Theory of Co-Production
| |
humans and the environment co-change each other
| | | | | |
A social constructivist...
| |
examines how beliefs, values, and practices shape how people
| | | | | | | | |
understand
Political Ecology |
Seeks to understand how politics and society shape environmental
| | | | | | | | |
problems. Traces the power. Provides a normative approach. Is critical of
| | | | | | | | | |
simple, apolitical characterizations of complex social-environmental
| | | | | | |
relationships.
Political ecology attempts to do two things at once
| | | | | | | |
1) critically explaining what is wrong with dominant accounts of
| | | | | | | | | |
environmental change (ie. why they do not work, why they are partial
| | | | | | | | | | | |
, explanations) 2) explores alternatives, adaptations, and creative human
| | | | | | | |
action in the face of mismanagement and exploitation
| | | | | | |
Apolitical ecology |
Blames proximate and local forces, rather than identifying broader
| | | | | | | | |
political-economic systems at work; views ecological systems as absent | | | | | | | | |
of power; claims an objectivity over science and observation, rather
| | | | | | | | | |
than acknowledging one's own position and bias.
| | | | | |
Degradation and Marginalization Thesis | | |
Explains environmental conditions and their reason for change.
| | | | | | | |
Environmental degradation, long blamed on marginal people, is show in
| | | | | | | | | |
its larger political and economic context.
| | | | |
Conservation and control thesis | | |
Explains conservation outcomes (especially failure). Usually viewed as
| | | | | | | |
benign, efforts at environmental conservation are shown to have
| | | | | | | | |
pernicious effects, and sometimes fail as a result.
| | | | | | |
Environmental conflict and exclusion | | |
Explains Access to the environment and conflicts over exclusion from it
| | | | | | | | | | |
(especially natural resources. Environmental conflicts are shown to be
| | | | | | | | |
part of larger gendered, classed, and raced struggles, and vice versa.
| | | | | | | | | | |
Environmental subjects and identity thesis | | | |
Explains Identities of people and social groups (especially new or
| | | | | | | | | |
emerging ones). Political identities and social struggles are shown to be
| | | | | | | | | | |
linked to basic issues of livelihood and environmental activity.
| | | | | | | | |
Political objects and actors thesis
| | | |
