Capitalism and Conservation

Many popular leisure pursuits and consumption habits drive and deepen global capitalism – from whale watching in the Azores to sipping an ethically–sourced cup of morning coffee. But what are the consequences for society, nature, and conservation? Capitalism and Conservation presents an important critique of conservation s role as a central driver of global capitalism.

This thought–provoking collection of case studies from around the world vividly demonstrates the increase in intensity and variety of forms of capitalist conservation. They also reveal a surprising shift in the conservation movement s own conception of these practices: their current mainstream view is the idea that capitalism can and should help conservation save the world. By examining the works of various corporate billionaires, powerful political coalitions and foundations, international elites and NGOs, and new tourist and business opportunities, the essays show that conservation and capitalism have intertwined to distribute fortune and misfortune in many new ways – with entirely new dynamics of profit creation and marginalisation.

Capitalism and Conservation offers illuminating insights and critique of the realities and tensions of capitalism and conservation′s coexistence in today′s world.

Introduction: Capitalism and Conservation: The Production and Reproduction of Biodiversity Conservation
Dan Brockington and Rosaleen Duffy 1

1 A Spectacular Eco–Tour around the Historic Bloc: Theorising the Convergence of Biodiversity Conservation and Capitalist Expansion
Jim Igoe, Katja Neves and Dan Brockington 17

2 The Devil is in the (Bio)diversity: Private Sector Engagement and the Restructuring of Biodiversity Conservation
Kenneth Iain MacDonald 44

3 The Conservationist Mode of Production and Conservation NGOs in sub–Saharan Africa
Dan Brockington and Katherine Scholfield 82

4 Shifting Environmental Governance in a Neoliberal World: US AID for Conservation
Catherine Corson 108

5 Disconnected Nature: The Scaling Up of African Wildlife Foundation and its Impacts on Biodiversity Conservation and Local Livelihoods
Hassanali T. Sachedina 135

6 The Rich, the Powerful and the Endangered: Conservation Elites, Networks and the Dominican Republic
George Holmes 156

7 Conservative Philanthropists, Royalty and Business Elites in Nature Conservation in Southern Africa
Marja Spierenburg and Harry Wels 179

8 Protecting the Environment the Natural Way: Ethical Consumption and Commodity Fetishism
James G. Carrier 203

9 Making the Market: Specialty Coffee, Generational Pitches, and Papua New Guinea
Paige West 221

10 Cashing in on Cetourism: A Critical Ecological Engagement with Dominant E–NGO Discourses on Whaling, Cetacean Conservation, and Whale Watching
Katja Neves 251

11 Neoliberalising Nature? Elephant–Back Tourism in Thailand and Botswana
Rosaleen Duffy and Lorraine Moore 274

12 The Receiving End of Reform: Everyday Responses to Neoliberalisation in Southeastern Mexico
Peter R.Wilshusen 299

Index 332

Dan Brockington is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Environment and Development at the University of Manchester. He is the author of Fortress Conservation (2002), Celebrity and the Environment. Fame, Wealth and Power in Conservation (2009) and, with Rosaleen Duffy and Jim Igoe, Nature Unbound: Conservation, Capitalism and the Future of Protected Areas (2008) .

Rosaleen Duffy is Professor of International Politics at Manchester University. She is author or co–author of several books, including Killing for Conservation (2000), A Trip Too Far: Politics, Ecotourism and Exploitation (2002), and Nature Crime: How We re Getting Conservation Wrong (forthcoming, 2010).

This book is suitable for a range of audiences seeking a more in depth understanding of the pervasion of neoliberalism in conservation and the peripheral role of conservation to neoliberalism. It would be useful for politics, geography and tourism researchers while also being a potential pertinent resource for practitioners pursuing greater understanding of the processes. It is good value for money for these individuals.   (Economic Geography Research Group, 2012)