Jacob Dearing
Dec. 16th, 2015
Critical Abstract #14
Article author: Arturo Escobar
Article title: Difference and Conflict in the Struggle Over Natural Resources
The purpose of development is a physical anchor to gaining improvement. The issue Arturo Escobar addresses is that the development we see, in modern society, is environmentally destructive and the benefits are unequal economically and, in many ways more important, socially. Escobar points out common characteristics of the struggles in the face of development: rich vs. poor and the questioning of capitalistic models. These defining characteristics personify the issues that are seen in the three “rubrics” that Escobar describes for environmental conflicts, which are “economic, ecological, and cultural” factors.
Furthermore, improving economic and ecological conditions receives a great deal of focus when attempting to resolve environmental conflicts. This is understandable and logical except when considering cultural or social factors as an influential condition of environmental conditions. This approach of excluding alterations towards how we view cultural differences can be seen in the attempts to implement general monetary values for ecological processes. The error in the concept of “internalization of externalities” is that not all values in nature can be measured. Moreover, if something cannot be measured then it cannot be given accurate value representations especially over the dynamic cultural values of the planet. The article illustrates this concept in order to show the mentality being used to approach serious resource conflicts by applying failed capitalistic ideals to the environment seen through a disproportionate perspective.
The reason I find this article fascinating and important is that it represents the need for alterations and difference in the ways by which we utilize our resources as a global entity.