Dr Iv谩n Lobo Romero

Agency in Collective Action: The Role of Afro-Colombian Community Leadership on Environmental Entrepreneurship in the Colombian Pacific Region

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PhD Completed in 2020 | >

Supervisors:

I studied the political economy of socio-environmental conflicts in the Colombian Pacific lowlands, arguably听one of the most biodiverse, resource-rich and conflict-ridden regions in the world. Specifically, my research is focused on the role played by community leaders from rural Afro-Colombian communities -a historically marginalised ethnic听minority in the country-听in two closely interrelated outcomes. First, the development of small-scale productive enterprises -mostly based on the extraction of natural resources- as an economic alternative for communities beyond subsistence economies. Second, collective resistance to the penetration and expansion of illicit economies (e.g. mining and coca).

As 'brokers' who are able to mobilise different forms of capital and connect communities with external actors, leaders seem to be potentially better endowed -and, from a structural point of view, more advantageously located- to help achieve听two long-standing aspirations of听Afro-Colombian communities.听Politically, strengthening their voice in the public sphere. Economically, developing more productive enterprises that use the region's natural resources sustainably. Whether the leaders'听potential is effectively deployed and whether it helps alleviate conflicts (rather than exacerbate them)听are both questions of empirical rather than normative value to which听this research provides possible听answers.听

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皇家华人