Con amore, rabbia e dignità. Un'analisi delle lotte per la difesa del territorio del basso

Abstract

The aim of this articles to contribute to the comprehension of the environmental conflicts from the viewpoint of the inhabitants of the threatened territories. Far from considering these experiences as NIMBY, we will show how emotions are important in these struggles, and why this approach should no longer be used. The analysis is based on previous empirical research on three cases carried out in Spain (the struggles to defend the Riano valley and the Grande river) and Mexico (the struggle against San Nicolas’ dam) all of them analysed with techniques of qualitative research. Focusing on the subjective dimension of protest and from below, we will analyse the role of emotions, such as place attachment, collective and moral emotions, which allow us to comprehend both why people protest and the transformation of consciousness and behaviour they experience. Finally, we will show how these resistances turn into experiences of democratization, political participation and empowerment where self-organized citizens are experimenting new political practices and are also proposing new discourses