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Splintering South: Ecologically Unequal Exchange Theory in a Fragmented Global Climate

Journal of World-Systems Research

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Title Splintering South: Ecologically Unequal Exchange Theory in a Fragmented Global Climate
 
Creator Ciplet, David
Roberts, J. Timmons
 
Subject Sociology; political economy; international relations; environmental justice
Ecologically Unequal Exchange, Climate change politics, United Nations climate negotiations, 2015 Paris climate negotiations
 
Description The article examines the changing nature of politics in the United Nations climate negotiations through the lens of ecologically unequal exchange theory, focusing on the lead up to and aftermath of the 2015 Paris negotiations. We identify and discuss three areas of tension that have emerged within the G-77 coalition: tensions within the global semi-periphery, tensions between the semi-periphery and periphery, and tensions within the periphery. Together, these tensions challenge the main link of solidarity in the G-77 coalition: the idea that all countries in the global South share a common predicament in the global system, with the North solely to blame. Drawing upon this case, we offer three related insights to develop ecologically unequal exchange theory. First, theory and empirical work must better consider the role of the semi-periphery, and divisions within the semi-periphery, in reproducing ecologically unequal societies. Second, theory should account for how fragmentation between the periphery and semi-periphery may produce distinct challenges for peripheral states to resist governance forms which intensify ecologically unequal exchange. Third, theory should better account for the ways in which ecologically unequal exchange as mobilized as a collective action frame reflects and diverges from the real-world distribution of environmental goods and bads in the world system.
 
Publisher University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
 
Contributor Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation
Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy
 
Date 2017-08-11
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr/article/view/669
10.5195/jwsr.2017.669
 
Source Journal of World-Systems Research; Vol 23, No 2 (2017): Special Issue: Unequal Ecological Exchange; 372-398
1076-156X
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr/article/view/669/957
 
Rights Copyright (c) 2017 David Ciplet, J. Timmons Roberts
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0