In the Borderlands of the Anthropocene: Eco-Nationalism and Sarah Moss’s Climate Fictions

Background: Violence and gender inequality duo stand out as a global-scale public health problem, not only because of their frequent prevelances but because of their important effects on youth health. Health workers and especially nurses play an important role in preventing violence Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of gender attitudes of nursing students on their attitudes towards dating and domestic violence. Methods: This study used a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of a total 638 nursing students. Data were collected with Questionnaire Form, Gender Role Attitude Scale, Dating Violence Attitudes Scale and Domestic Violence Attitude Scale. Mann Whitney U, Kruskall Wallis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, Corrected Bonferroni was used. Results: Students attitudes of social gender roles was found to be high, whereas dating and domestic violence attitudes were found at a medium level. Gender roles attitudes nursing students have an effect on their domestic and dating violence attitudes. Conclusion: While there was a positive direction between gender attitudes and dating violence, there was a negative relationship between domestic violence attitudes.

IntroductionResource Materialities Tanya Richardson and Gisa Weszkalnys Demand for natural resources such as oil, water, and land remain undiminished at the start of the 21st century despite growing public anxiety about their depletion. As key resources become scarce, new resources come into existence. Across the globe, states and corporations have redoubled efforts to extract conventional and unconventional resources in an attempt to deliver ongoing prosperity to citizens and shareholders. The contradictions and violence of these endeavors are most apparent in state-sanctioned encroachment of multinational companies on indigenous and other rural lands. The resurgence of anthropological research on natural resources, a field with a long and continuous trajectory, stems from the recognition of these dilemmas and their growing impact on the peoples and places anthropologists study. Until the past decade and a half, anthropological studies tended to focus—with some noteable exceptions—on agriculture, hunting, fishing, foraging, and similar activities involving the exploitation of so-called renewable resources. However, more and more anthropologists have turned their attention to the study of natural resources per se. They have produced studies of water, sapphires, gold, oil, coltan, forests, and biodiversity (Acheson 2006, Behrends et al. 2011, Mantz 2008, Orlove and Caton 2010, Whiteford and Whiteford 2005), of specific extractive regions such as Australia and Papua New Guinea (Rumsey and Weiner 2004), of modes of engagement with resources such as [End Page 5] extraction and conservation (Ballard and Banks 2003, Carrier and West 2009), and of conceptualizations of specific resource processes such as adaptation and commoditization. The common refrain of these studies is that while natural resource exploitation continues to play a critical part in shaping the human condition, it does not do so in a uniform or environmentally deterministic manner. However, with the exception of Ferry and Limbert’s (2008a) stimulating edited volume, little effort has been made to examine resources as a theoretical and comparative problem in a way that would conceive of their “resourceness” as going beyond their status as particular kinds of commodities. This special collection explores questions in the anthropology of natural resources that have thus far remained implicit, including questions about resources’ specific characteristics and capacities, the processes through which they come into being, and how such processes of resource making can be studied ethnographically. We suggest that placing these kinds of questions—questions of an ontological bent—at the center of inquiry can enhance the possibilities for a comparative ethnographic analysis. They also help interrogate the logics that perpetuate natural resource exploitation and specify an anthropological intervention in cross-disciplinary debates. Our questions arise out of broader intellectual trends in the social sciences and philosophy to which anthropologists have contributed that probe the legacies of modernist divisions between human and nonhuman, the social and the material, and what is active and what is acted upon in the environment. Terms such as “socionature” (Swyngedouw 1999), “natureculture” (Haraway 1997, Latour 1993), “nature regimes” (Escobar 1999), or “second nature” (Biersack 2006) have been developed to convey the sense that nature “is humanly produced (through conceptualization as well as activity) and that [it] therefore partakes, but without being entirely, of the human” (2006:14). Natural resource exploitation—as a sustained project of abstracting substances identified as useful, valuable, and natural in origin from their environment—has long played a central role in that continuing human effort to become “modern.” It is a process of boundary making par excellence—of distinguishing subject from object, nature from culture, and science from politics (Latour 1993). The intellectual agenda of scholars mentioned above, sometimes dubbed “posthumanist” or “new materialist,” has been partly driven by ethical concerns about climate change and ecological disasters, and the exploitation of resource environments. [End Page 6] One of anthropology’s key contributions to these discussions stems from research about the differences in how people relate to their surroundings and about worlds premised on principles other than modernist ones (Descola and Pálsson 1996, Ingold 2000, Strathern 1980). Curiously, geographers have been quicker than anthropologists to import concepts of nonhuman or material agency, which have also emerged from anthropological work, back into the study of resources as such (Bakker and Bridge 2006, Bridge 2009, Kaup 2008). In this special...

This article explores the relationship between demographic trends and nationalist ideologies through an analysis of fertility policies in France, Romania, Singapore and Israel. Each of these countries has sought to increase birthrates through government initiatives. I examine the extent to which pronatalist programmes in these countries reflect ethno-nationalist ideologies, as opposed to more inclusive civic/cultural nationalist visions, and find that policies are moving in a more civic/cultural nationalist direction. Pronatalist policies are less often specifically aimed at dominant racial/ethnic groups and are less oriented towards 'traditional' gender roles. I argue that ethno-nationalist visions of the nation may become less influential, in part due to demographic imperatives.

This study sought to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the association of gender, machismo and marianismo, and acculturation to dating violence (DV) attitudes among a sample of Latino college students. A total of 305 students were recruited from a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) located on the United States-Mexico border. Results showed significant differences in all forms of DV attitudes across gender. Separate regression models for men and women showed a pattern of endorsing the traditional gender role of machismo was predictive of tolerant DV attitudes for men and women. The marianismo dimension of chastity and virtuosity was associated to a decrease in tolerant DV attitudes among men. In addition, acculturation's relationship to DV attitudes and gender role ideology was not significant. Overall, the findings highlight the need for DV programs to address culturally-based understandings of gender roles and their association to DV attitudes.

Although a large number of studies have been conducted worldwide to examine various aspects of intimate partner violence (IPV), comparative study of people's views on such violence in Chinese societies has been scarce. Using survey data collected from more than 850 college students in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, this study specifically assessed the impact of attitudes toward gender role and violence, personal and vicarious experience, demographic characteristics, and locality on students' definitions of IPV. The Taiwanese students were most likely to define a broader range of abusive behavior as IPV, followed by Hong Kong and Beijing students. Gender role and violence attitudes appeared to be most important predictors of IPV definitions. College students who supported the notion of male dominance were more likely to have a narrower definition of IPV, whereas those who viewed domestic violence as crime were more inclined to have a broader definition of IPV. Implications for future research and policy were discussed.

Mangrove forests are productive ecosystems found along the coastal zones of Brazil, providing several profitable resources such as timber, medicinal products, natural dye, fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. For the littoral dwellers of Northeast Brazil, the Brachyura crabs are a major economic resource. The main species they commercialize are the 'goiamum' (Cardisoma guanhumi), 'siris' (Callinectes spp), and the land crab 'caranguejo-uca' (Ucides cordatus). The land crab is the most exploited species, and of most relevance for people living in the surrounding mangrove areas in the State of Paraiba [1-3]. U. cordatus lives in an individual burrow ca. 1 m deep, situated under mangrove trees. Adult crabs have few predators, notably the crab-eating racoon (Procyon cancrivorous), monkeys, and hawks [4]. Despite this, a high predation pressure on U. cordatus is exerted by humans who harvest this species for food [5]. In the Northeast Region of Brazil, the exploitation of U. cordatus holds particular socio-economic importance since it involves many local residents, who benefit from both direct and indirect employment [2,3]. Crab gatherers have observed that the natural stock of U. cordatus has decreased alarmingly since 1998, when an unexpected crab mass-mortality event occurred in the mangrove habitats of the Paraiban littoral [3]. The subsequent low crab abundance created social problems in the surroundings of those mangrove areas and seriously affected the economic welfare of poor people who depend upon crab gathering for their livelihoods. The need for research on the exploitation of mangrove ecosystems and on U. cordatus in particular was emphasized by Maneschy [6], who also suggested the need to study the socio-economics of crab collecting, which has recently experienced an increase in production demand. The life of gatherers is intimately linked to ecological processes and cycles, and their daily involvement with the exploitation of other natural resources will likely help them to develop harvesting strategies for maximizing the crab catch efficiency. An understanding of the ecology of U. cordatus by local gatherers is an important component of the process of exploitation [2,6]. In recent years, researchers have emphasized the importance of traditional knowledge amongst fishermen. They have also emphasized the potential role that traditional fishing practices can play in the development and implementation of sustainable fishery management in the modern world [7-9]. Human communities which rely directly on their natural resources for subsistence, often have a detailed understanding of their local environment [10-12]. The economic, social, and cultural activities of such people often depend upon local environmental goods and services [13]. Ecologists and environmental managers have generally disregarded the possibilities of learning from the traditional human communities [14]. However, a recent acknowledgment of their relevance has led to an intensification of studies on traditional knowledge [14-18]. In Brazil alone, Diegues [19] listed 868 relevant publications on traditional human populations, of which nearly 80% were published over the last 20 years, and mainly in the last decade. Traditional knowledge may help in the establishment of management plans aimed at the sustainable exploitation of natural resources [2,3]. Nordi [20] observed that the government environmental organization controlling the capture of U. cordatus does not consider local human knowledge of the ecology of the species, a fact that possibly explains the poor effectiveness of the regulations governing the exploitation of this resource. U. cordatus individuals are caught manually or by the use of some tools which allow easier access to them. In most of Brazilian States professional crab gatherers are male [21]. During normal harvest procedures gatherers select crabs with respect to both sex and size. In particular, male crabs are preferred due to their higher flesh yield [22]. Gatherers have developed the ability for distinguishing the sex of crabs as inferred from the track the animal leaves close to burrow openings, as well as from the size of burrow entrances. This perception is important since it directly influences the capture process since large male crabs are preferred due to their higher commercial value. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the ability of gatherers to discriminate the sex and size of crabs, and the importance of this ability on the development of successful harvest strategies. It is also intended here to evaluate the implications of this perception for establishing measures aimed at the conservation and management of U. cordatus.

The physical, economic, and sociocultural displacement of local peoples from protected areas generates intense discussion among scholars and policy makers. To foster greater precision and clarity in these discussions, we used a conceptual framework from the political economy literature to examine different forms of human displacement from protected areas. Using marine protected areas (MPAs) to ground our analysis, we characterized the 5 types of property rights that are reallocated (lost, secured, and gained) through the establishment of protected areas. All forms of MPA "displacement" involve reallocation of property rights, but the specific types and bundles of rights lost, secured, and gained dramatically shape the magnitude, extent, and equity of MPA impacts--positive and negative--on governance, economic well-being, health, education, social capital, and culture. The impacts of reallocating rights to MPA resources vary within and among social groups, inducing changes in society, in patterns of resource use, and in the environment. To create more environmentally sustainable and socially just conservation practice, a critical next step in conservation social science research is to document and explain variation in the social impacts of protected areas.

Background: This study explores the importance of natural resources for the well-being humanity. It also assesses economic benefits and environmental protection perceptions of preserving these resources. Natural resources shape lives, cultures and identities. They are important in the sustainability of life. Without these resources life will be impossible for humanity. There has been an increase in the exploitation of these resources resulting in environmental degradation and this poses a threat to their sustainability. This study argues that sustainability of life is grounded in the availability and sustainability of these resources. Consequently, there is a high need for States to enforce environmental policies to safeguard against exploitation of these resources. The study tried to give answers to the question of whether natural resources can be beneficial to the well-being of humanity and also explored how these resources can be preserved for future generations. It also argues that natural resources were created by God, rather than just occurring naturally. Methods: This study addresses the phenomenon using a qualitative exploratory framework. Data was collected from 28 participants who were environmentalist (52%) and theologians (48%). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the participants were purposively selected. Data was transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques and three main themes emerged. Findings: The findings revealed that natural resources greatly enhance people’s livelihoods and contribute to economic growth. They are freely given by God to be utilized and be preserved by humanity as human beings were entrusted to be guardians of the environment. They contribute to economic growth and help reduce poverty. While there are environmental policies in place, such policies are not adequately enforced. The exploitation of natural resources results in economic crises, ecological degradation and increase human vulnerability. Conclusion: the continued sustainability of human life is rooted in using natural resources in a responsible manner and in the conservation of these resources. Exploitation of natural resources poses a great threat to the sustainability of human life. Novelty/ originality of this article: This study is unique in the sense that it gives a deep exploration of the importance of natural resources including perceptions and historical theological disposition. It also provides insights into the perspectives of conserving these resources.

Editors’ introduction to the Special Section: The ethics and politics of the Anthropocene

The Carpathian Mountains are considered to be one of Europe’s last “wilderness” areas, but are nevertheless under heavy pressure from human activities. Examples range from large-scale activities (e.g. metal and coal mining) and ecological disasters (e.g. tailing dam failures in the Toroiaga and Baia Mare areas) to cross-border pollution (e.g. Chernobyl nuclear accident). The current political thrust for economic development is accelerating the pace of industrial activities, exploitation of natural resources and tourism. Romania has just recently been integrated into the European Union and many community-based projects were initiated to evaluate problems related to climatic and anthropogenic impacts. The diversity of landforms that characterize the Carpathian region encompassing mountain ranges and large spans of adjacent lowlands and the dynamic interplay between North Atlantic, continental, and Mediterranean atmospheric circulation patterns in southeastern Europe, have resulted in extremely fragmented habitats and exceptional biodiversity (Veres and Mindrescu, 2013). However, the Carpathian Mountains remain the least studied mountain environment in Europe, as reflected for example by the low number of well-dated and high-resolution paleorecords (e.g. Buczkó et al. 2009). Rose et al. (2009) published a pollution history study from a lake in the Retezat Mountains at the western extremity of the Southern Carpathians, but no paleoenvironmental studies exist for the rest of the mountain range, despite the abundance of suitable sites (Akinyemi et al., 2013). An interdisciplinary approach to geoscience is particularly important in this vast research field (geosciences), as innovative science is increasingly stimulated by studies that cross disciplinary boundaries and thus benefit from multiple research methods and viewpoints. Grasping this concept has led us to encourage interdisciplinary cooperation by creating “meeting places” where geoscience researchers and scholars can find common grounds for discussion and collaboration (Hutchinson and Mindrescu, 2012). In this regard an international meeting was organized at the Geography Department, University of Suceava, Romania, and was cosponsored by the University of Suceava, the Applied Geography Association (GEOCONCEPT), Past Global Changes (PAGES) and the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI). The purpose of the workshop was to bring together an international group of scientists interested in the Carpathian-Balkan region to discuss research results and promote opportunities for interdisciplinary and international collaboration. The entire workshop was webcast. The program centered on 36 oral and 15 poster presentations as well as open discussions on the climatic and environmental dynamics during the Pleistocene and Holocene. The 70 participants were from Romania, Hungary, Germany, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Ukraine, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Greece and Belgium. For many young researchers and students the workshop offered an educational opportunity to present their results to an international audience and discuss their research in a multidisciplinary community. To promote follow-up activities in the region, the “Suceava working group” was created under the lead of Marcel Mindrescu, Angelica Feurdean, Eniko Magyari and Daniel Veres. A group website is currently being set up (http://atlas.usv.ro/www/climatechange/) and grant proposals will be prepared. The group will also coordinate the organization of a second regional workshop in 2014 in Romania. Further activities, such as summer camps or meetings in the field are also considered.

In this article, an attempt is made to assess the environmental harm from military conflicts, military-environmental problems. The authors note that military actions cause direct and indirect harm to all ecosystems, and the preparation and conduct of military operations require enormous material resources obtained through predatory exploitation of population and natural resources. Conditionally, the impact of war on the environment can be divided into four stages: preparation for war; maintenance and operation of military equipment and military facilities; direct military operations; postwar reconstruction.

This chapter examines feminist influences on political geography, geopolitics, war, and conflicts. It begins with a synopsis of gender and geopolitics, which details how the study of gender has been incorporated into political geographic analyses. The chapter provides an overview of how gender roles and relations shape, and are shaped by, governments and national ideologies. Feminist geographers began by incorporating women into the study of political geography and geopolitics because they had been absent from these inquires. The inclusion of women transitioned into research on gender roles, norms, relations, and ideologies as they intersected politically with other social categories such as race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality. By studying micro-scale politics, such as communities, homes, and bodies, feminist geographers effectively identify the interrelationship between the personal and the geopolitical. Examining this interrelationship involves analyzing the political aspects of daily life and intimacy, such as biological and social reproduction, and the impacts of geopolitical conflicts on intersectional gender identities and everyday life.

Climate change and ecological disasters have significant impacts on women’s lives, particularly in the context of the Lapindo mudflow. This study aims to uncover the resilience experiences of women affected by the disaster, their strategies in coping with the crisis, and the role of gender in public policy. The research employs a qualitative approach with an ecofeminist perspective to highlight the social, economic, health, environmental, cultural, and spiritual experiences of affected women. Analysis was conducted to examine the resilience strategies implemented, ranging from strengthening social solidarity, engaging in microeconomic activities, maintaining health, managing the environment, to practicing cultural and spiritual traditions. The findings indicate that: (1) women face complex disaster impacts, including loss of homes, forced relocation, social dislocation, difficulties in accessing public services, psychosocial pressures, and disruption of education and traditional practices; (2) women’s resilience strategies encompass social, economic, health, environmental, as well as cultural and spiritual aspects; (3) the study also found gender exclusion in decision-making and village deliberations, resulting in women’s voices often being marginalized; (4) the study recommends full participation of women in recovery processes and disaster policy formulation to ensure greater equity and inclusivity.

This study sought to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the association of gender, machismo and marianismo, and acculturation to dating violence (DV) attitudes among a sample of Latino college students. A total of 305 students were recruited from a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) located on the United States–Mexico border. Results showed significant differences in all forms of DV attitudes across gender. Separate regression models for men and women showed a pattern of endorsing the traditional gender role of machismo was predictive of tolerant DV attitudes for men and women. The marianismo dimension of chastity and virtuosity was associated to a decrease in tolerant DV attitudes among men. In addition, acculturation's relationship to DV attitudes and gender role ideology was not significant. Overall, the findings highlight the need for DV programs to address culturally-based understandings of gender roles and their association to DV attitudes.

This two-part paper discusses developments at the beginning of the 21st century, using the comparative world-systems perspective to see disturbing similarities, and important differences, between what happened during the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century and what seems to be happening in the early 21st. We then use this perspective to consider possible scenarios for the next several decades. In Part One, published in the preceding issue, we considered the major challenges of massive global inequalities, ecological degradation, and a failed system of global governance in the wake of US hegemonic decline. In Part Two that follows, we discuss the major structural alternatives for the trajectory of the world-system during the 21st century, positing three basic scenarios: (1) another round of US economic hegemony based on comparative advantage in new lead industries and another round of US political hegemony—instead of supremacy; (2) collapse: interstate rivalry, deglobalisation, financial and economic collapse, ecological disaster, resource wars, and deadly epidemic diseases; and (3) capable, democratic, multilateral and legitimate global governance strongly supported by progressive transnational social movements and global parties, semiperipheral democratic socialist regimes, and important movements and parties in the core and the periphery.