Navigating state-led extractivism in Ecuador and Russia

Abstract

Rodriguez and Loginova adopt a political ecology approach to analyse the struggles of two socio-environmental movements: the water guardians of Kimsakocha in Ecuador and the Pechora River saviours in Russia. They explore how the socio-environmental movements have navigated through power asymmetries in the quest of spaces to demand meaningful participation in decision-making and secure their own aspirations for development. Rodriguez and Loginova pay particular attention to the metaphor of ‘ “fluidity”‘ as they believe that it can contribute to a better understanding of the movements’ identities and agendas, and the reactive and strategic adaptation that allows them to navigate myriad processes and actors in an ever-changing context. They also show that resistance is not based only on strategies based on direct contestation and protest, but also on finding innovative approaches for promoting transformations. In particular, they discuss practices adopted by local communities that can lead to alternative ecologies against the neoliberal agenda while initiating learning processes.