85
3
Conclusions
In this chapter we have presented the topic of bioprospecting as an example of how
some political ecology perspectives can be applied. Elements of all of the ten syntheses presented in 7 Chap. 1 have been applied to some extent, and with a particular emphasis on synthesis five between realism and social constructivism. We
provided examples of realism first by a short presentation of the political economy
of the economic activity of bioprospecting, and then through our own studies of
how bioprospecting has been carried out in two cases. Moreover, we presented a
framework of social constructivism through the investigation of discourses and narratives on topics related to environment and development. The approach has been
derived from the study of bioprospecting, and we consider bioprospecting as a useful
example for its introduction also because the extensive polarization between the two
leading discourses on bioprospecting makes it a relatively simple example. In the following chapters, we will provide more examples of combined studies of realism and
social constructivism, and we also go more into other elements of the ten syntheses.
References
Adger, W.N., T.A. Benjaminsen, K. Brown, and H. Svarstad. 2001. Advancing a political ecology of
global environmental discourses. Development and Change 32 (4): 681–715.
Aristotle. 1996. Poetics. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Bayart, J.-F. 1993. The state in Africa: Politics of the belly. New York: Longman.
Bell, J. 1997. Biopiracy’s latest disguises. Seedling 14 (2): 2–10.
Brush, S. 1999. Bioprospecting the public domain. Cultural Anthropology 14: 535–555.
Carlson, T.J., M.M. Iwu, S.R. King, C. Obialor, and A. Ozioko. 1997. Medicinal plant research in
Nigeria: An approach for compliance with the convention on biological diversity. Diversity 13: 1.
Castree, N. 2003. Bioprospecting: From theory to practice (and back again). Transactions of the
Institute of British Geographers 28 (1): 35–55.
? Questions
1. Find a case of bioprospecting that either has taken place in your country or has
been conducted by companies or scientists from your country (or another
country you are interested in). Search for texts about the case from any type of
source. Compare the presentation of bioprospecting in the texts with the
win-win and biopiracy narratives.
2. Discuss what aspects you would examine if you were to make a study of this
case based on realism.
3. Discuss the discourse concept presented in this chapter in comparison to other
concepts such as ideology, culture, paradigm and theory.
4. Try to identify environmental issues in your country where a hegemonic
discourse dominates.
References
3
Conclusions
In this chapter we have presented the topic of bioprospecting as an example of how
some political ecology perspectives can be applied. Elements of all of the ten syntheses presented in 7 Chap. 1 have been applied to some extent, and with a particular emphasis on synthesis five between realism and social constructivism. We
provided examples of realism first by a short presentation of the political economy
of the economic activity of bioprospecting, and then through our own studies of
how bioprospecting has been carried out in two cases. Moreover, we presented a
framework of social constructivism through the investigation of discourses and narratives on topics related to environment and development. The approach has been
derived from the study of bioprospecting, and we consider bioprospecting as a useful
example for its introduction also because the extensive polarization between the two
leading discourses on bioprospecting makes it a relatively simple example. In the following chapters, we will provide more examples of combined studies of realism and
social constructivism, and we also go more into other elements of the ten syntheses.
References
Adger, W.N., T.A. Benjaminsen, K. Brown, and H. Svarstad. 2001. Advancing a political ecology of
global environmental discourses. Development and Change 32 (4): 681–715.
Aristotle. 1996. Poetics. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Bayart, J.-F. 1993. The state in Africa: Politics of the belly. New York: Longman.
Bell, J. 1997. Biopiracy’s latest disguises. Seedling 14 (2): 2–10.
Brush, S. 1999. Bioprospecting the public domain. Cultural Anthropology 14: 535–555.
Carlson, T.J., M.M. Iwu, S.R. King, C. Obialor, and A. Ozioko. 1997. Medicinal plant research in
Nigeria: An approach for compliance with the convention on biological diversity. Diversity 13: 1.
Castree, N. 2003. Bioprospecting: From theory to practice (and back again). Transactions of the
Institute of British Geographers 28 (1): 35–55.
? Questions
1. Find a case of bioprospecting that either has taken place in your country or has
been conducted by companies or scientists from your country (or another
country you are interested in). Search for texts about the case from any type of
source. Compare the presentation of bioprospecting in the texts with the
win-win and biopiracy narratives.
2. Discuss what aspects you would examine if you were to make a study of this
case based on realism.
3. Discuss the discourse concept presented in this chapter in comparison to other
concepts such as ideology, culture, paradigm and theory.
4. Try to identify environmental issues in your country where a hegemonic
discourse dominates.
References