The politics of nature
Critical in development is how people relate to the rest of nature. Development processes have drastically changed ecosystems, biodiversity, waterways and landscapes around the world, but natural environments also shape how we practice and think about development. This also means that nature is always political: how we understand nature, use or conserve it, depends on power relations that are connected to knowledge, information and heritage.
Building on our long-standing profile in political ecology and related domains, this theme explores dynamic interactions between environments and their exploitation and conservation. The theme foregrounds contestations over natural resources - land, biodiversity, minerals, water and climate - and how these are created and framed through global structures of neoliberal governance, legal and extra-legal frameworks and lived realities. The SDC group has major expertise in the politics of conservation, and is at the forefront of discussions on militarised, neoliberal and community conservation, as well as part of a movement towards convivial conservation that seeks to transform the sector in more just, equal and sustainable ways.
Our projects
Peri-urban water regimes and nature (PeriNature)
This project addresses the gap in understanding peri-urban areas and their ecological contexts, focusing on India. These areas can reinforce social and spatial inequalities, but also offer opportunities for sustainable urban development. The research examines how water regimes are shaped by interactions between actors, technologies, institutions, and local ecological conditions. Contact: Sumit Vij.
Convivial Conservation Coalition
Building a network working to rethink and redirect conservation through socially and ecologically just approaches
Convivial Conservation explores alternative ways of understanding and practicing environmental conservation by focusing on more just relationships between people and nature. Bringing together researchers, communities and change-makers worldwide, this initiative aims at building, facilitating and supporting a network across academia, policy and practice to examine how conservation can move beyond exclusionary approaches and address the root causes of biodiversity loss through socially and ecologically sustainable practices. Contact: Bram Buscher.
Conservation real estate
Interrogating the rapid rise of European-owned second homes in southern Africa’s conservation areas
This project explores how European-owned second homes in Namibia and South Africa's conservation areas influence local communities, rural landscapes and biodiversity. In the context of unresolved colonial land dispossession, the project investigates the social and environmental consequences of conservation-driven property development and seeks to contribute to more equitable post-colonial relationships around land ownership and conservation. Contact: Lerato Thakholi.
Basic Income Support (CONNECT)
Transdisciplinary Research to Connect Conservation and Development through Basic Income Support
This project investigates how conservation and poverty reduction can be combined through innovative approaches to biodiversity protection. Focusing on Rwanda’s protected areas, the project explores the potential of conservation basic income as an alternative to conventional conservation models, examining whether unconditional financial support can improve local wellbeing, reduce human-wildlife conflict and contribute to biodiversity conservation. Contact: Robert Fletcher.
Peri-urban water regimes and nature (PeriNature)
This project addresses the gap in understanding peri-urban areas and their ecological contexts, focusing on India. These areas can reinforce social and spatial inequalities, but also offer opportunities for sustainable urban development. The research examines how water regimes are shaped by interactions between actors, technologies, institutions, and local ecological conditions. Contact: Sumit Vij.
Convivial Conservation Coalition
Building a network working to rethink and redirect conservation through socially and ecologically just approaches
Convivial Conservation explores alternative ways of understanding and practicing environmental conservation by focusing on more just relationships between people and nature. Bringing together researchers, communities and change-makers worldwide, this initiative aims at building, facilitating and supporting a network across academia, policy and practice to examine how conservation can move beyond exclusionary approaches and address the root causes of biodiversity loss through socially and ecologically sustainable practices. Contact: Bram Buscher.
Conservation real estate
Interrogating the rapid rise of European-owned second homes in southern Africa’s conservation areas
This project explores how European-owned second homes in Namibia and South Africa's conservation areas influence local communities, rural landscapes and biodiversity. In the context of unresolved colonial land dispossession, the project investigates the social and environmental consequences of conservation-driven property development and seeks to contribute to more equitable post-colonial relationships around land ownership and conservation. Contact: Lerato Thakholi.
Basic Income Support (CONNECT)
Transdisciplinary Research to Connect Conservation and Development through Basic Income Support
This project investigates how conservation and poverty reduction can be combined through innovative approaches to biodiversity protection. Focusing on Rwanda’s protected areas, the project explores the potential of conservation basic income as an alternative to conventional conservation models, examining whether unconditional financial support can improve local wellbeing, reduce human-wildlife conflict and contribute to biodiversity conservation. Contact: Robert Fletcher.
Contact us
Research themes
The politics of nature
How we understand nature, use or conserve it, depends on power relations that are connected to knowledge, information and heritage.
Disaster and conflict during crisis
We study the lives, livelihoods and environments of people affected by disasters, hazards, and conflicts, including their politics, foundations, and aftermaths.
Inequality and social-environmental justice
We study inequalities to understand where they come from, who benefits, and how inequality is maintained and legitimated.
Sociology of Development and Change
Sociology of Development and Change, led by Robert Fletcher (ad interim), focuses on structures and practices of development and change with an interest in inequality, marginalization and political agency.