Contested Powers: The Politics of Energy and Development in Latin America - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1783600926 ISBN 13: 9781783600922

Publisher: Zed Books, 2015

Synopsis

Contested Powers looks specifically at the role of fossil fuels and renewable energy in the economic development of countries in Latin America. The contributors to this volume argue that the two currently dominant approaches to energy policy—either a focus on energy conservation or a focus on creating renewable energy resources—are actually two sides of the same coin. Both approaches are hindered by an underlying division of labor and capital that puts the means for ecologically sound technological advancement in the hands of a minority. The essays in Contested Powers go beyond Latin America to demonstrate that the key to addressing climate change and sustainable development around the globe is to first address the relationship between political and financial power and energy use and resources.

About this title

About the Author

John-Andrew McNeish is a social anthropologist with experience in research, education, and consultancy. Axel Borchgrevnik is associate professor at the Institute for International Studies and Interpreter Education in Oslo, Norway. Owen Logan is a photographer, writer, and a research fellow at the University of Aberdeen. He is also a contributing editor to Variant Magazine.

Review

'Combining penetrating case studies with a theoretically insightful broader analysis of the meanings, contradictions and global significance of recent development processes in Latin America, this landmark collection constructively critiques conventional wisdom while offering fresh ways of understanding the political complexity created by different kinds of claims to sovereignty.' John Gledhill, University of Manchester, and author of The New War on the Poor 'This collection of case studies from Latin America challenges neoliberal ideology by demonstrating the pivotal role of energy in political struggles within and between nation-states in our unequal world.' Alf Hornborg, Lund University 'With this irrefutable volume, McNeish, Borchgrevink and Logan have taken us a long way towards the elusive goal of a post-carbon age.' Arturo Escobar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 'An incisive and theoretically sophisticated set of studies into the highly contentious relationship between energy and development. This is a signal contribution to our understanding of the politics of energy in Latin America.' Tom Perreault, Syracuse University

Edition details

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1783600926
• ISBN 13: 9781783600922
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 336
• Editor: McNeish John-Andrew, Borchgrevink Axel, Logan Owen