Suchergebnisse

This editorial introduces different theoretical strands in political ecology both in English and German speaking contexts. Comparing Marxist with more relational and "new materialist" approaches, it is argued that the various theoretical approaches chosen induce different ways of how the relationship between society and nature, between material and culture is conceptualized. The dialectical perspective derived from Marxism is thereby contrasted with the more emergent, and relativist understandings of actor network theory and assemblage thinking. Besides, the six single contributions in this Special Issue are introduced and five areas for further research are laid out: (1) the multiplicity of materiality, (2) the opposition between dialectic and relativist thinking, (3) the tension between elements and entire socio-material configurations, (4) materiality in the production of space and (5) issues of materiality and power.

This editorial introduces different theoretical strands in political ecology both in English and German speaking contexts. Comparing Marxist with more relational and "new materialist" approaches, it is argued that the various theoretical approaches chosen induce different ways of how the relationship between society and nature, between material and culture is conceptualized. The dialectical perspective derived from Marxism is thereby contrasted with the more emergent, and relativist understandings of actor network theory and assemblage thinking. Besides, the six single contributions in this Special Issue are introduced and five areas for further research are laid out: (1) the multiplicity of materiality, (2) the opposition between dialectic and relativist thinking, (3) the tension between elements and entire socio-material configurations, (4) materiality in the production of space and (5) issues of materiality and power.

Political ecology approaches examine how the relation between society and nature has historically and geographically evolved through material and discursive practices. This grounds a perspective which explore the social production of nature as a physical foundation of society. This article develops a conceptual framework to integrate the dimension of scale into political ecology. This allows political ecology approaches to understand social processes and the transformation of nature in the context of the production of scale. Against the background of palm oil production in Indonesia this article argues that combing political ecology and scale enhances our understanding of the way in which access to and control over natural resources change over time.

Political ecology approaches examine how the relation between society and nature has historically and geographically evolved through material and discursive practices. This grounds a perspective which explore the social production of nature as a physical foundation of society. This article develops a conceptual framework to integrate the dimension of scale into political ecology. This allows political ecology approaches to understand social processes and the transformation of nature in the context of the production of scale. Against the background of palm oil production in Indonesia this article argues that combing political ecology and scale enhances our understanding of the way in which access to and control over natural resources change over time.