Tammy L. Lewis
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780262034296
- eISBN:
- 9780262333382
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262034296.003.0007
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Studies
This chapter examines the sweeping changes that have taken place since President Rafael Correa came to power as part of the socialist “Citizens’ Revolution” to transform the state from a weak agent ...
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This chapter examines the sweeping changes that have taken place since President Rafael Correa came to power as part of the socialist “Citizens’ Revolution” to transform the state from a weak agent into a strong and effective actor. In this process, the environmental sector changed. First, international agents, such as USAID, lessened their involvement in Ecuador and others, such as Conservation International, shifted their focus from ecodependents to the state. Second, environmental leaders moved from the non-profit sector into the government. Third, ecodependent groups lost power and many closed due to fiscal concerns. Finally, many of the ecoresisters’ ideas were incorporated into the state, such as constitutional rights for nature and the Yasuní-ITT Initiative. However, as the state seeks to honor its promise to lift its people out of poverty, it has done so through resource extraction. Ecoresisters are now battling against the state rather than the transnational corporations they fought in the past and the state is limiting their civil liberties. This final case chapter looks at the role of various types of civil society groups in altering (or not altering) the state’s choices, and discusses the potential for democratic practices to slow the treadmill of production.Less
This chapter examines the sweeping changes that have taken place since President Rafael Correa came to power as part of the socialist “Citizens’ Revolution” to transform the state from a weak agent into a strong and effective actor. In this process, the environmental sector changed. First, international agents, such as USAID, lessened their involvement in Ecuador and others, such as Conservation International, shifted their focus from ecodependents to the state. Second, environmental leaders moved from the non-profit sector into the government. Third, ecodependent groups lost power and many closed due to fiscal concerns. Finally, many of the ecoresisters’ ideas were incorporated into the state, such as constitutional rights for nature and the Yasuní-ITT Initiative. However, as the state seeks to honor its promise to lift its people out of poverty, it has done so through resource extraction. Ecoresisters are now battling against the state rather than the transnational corporations they fought in the past and the state is limiting their civil liberties. This final case chapter looks at the role of various types of civil society groups in altering (or not altering) the state’s choices, and discusses the potential for democratic practices to slow the treadmill of production.
Tammy L. Lewis
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780262034296
- eISBN:
- 9780262333382
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262034296.003.0002
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Studies
This chapter provides an overview of Ecuador socioeconomically, politically, geographically, and environmentally within the global context from the 1970s through 2015. It emphasizes Ecuador’s ...
More
This chapter provides an overview of Ecuador socioeconomically, politically, geographically, and environmentally within the global context from the 1970s through 2015. It emphasizes Ecuador’s similarities and differences with regard to other Latin American countries. The discussion examines Ecuador’s unique biodiversity and petroleum in some depth, as they are two of its natural resources that link the country to the international financial community via aid relationships and exports, respectively. This chapter also lays out some key events in Ecuador’s history that are used to delineate four periods for a comparative analysis. The periods include the origins of the environmental movement (1978-1987), the neoliberal boom (1987-2000), neoliberal bust (2000-2006) and the citizens’ revolution (2006-2015). In the following chapters, the relationship among transnational funding for the environment, the Ecuadorian environmental movement, the state, and environmental and development policies are examined.Less
This chapter provides an overview of Ecuador socioeconomically, politically, geographically, and environmentally within the global context from the 1970s through 2015. It emphasizes Ecuador’s similarities and differences with regard to other Latin American countries. The discussion examines Ecuador’s unique biodiversity and petroleum in some depth, as they are two of its natural resources that link the country to the international financial community via aid relationships and exports, respectively. This chapter also lays out some key events in Ecuador’s history that are used to delineate four periods for a comparative analysis. The periods include the origins of the environmental movement (1978-1987), the neoliberal boom (1987-2000), neoliberal bust (2000-2006) and the citizens’ revolution (2006-2015). In the following chapters, the relationship among transnational funding for the environment, the Ecuadorian environmental movement, the state, and environmental and development policies are examined.
