Chapter 3 Review
Ideal Types of Environmentalism
Environmental organizations can be split into numerous classifications. The four “ideal types” presented in this chapter are ecoimperialists, ecodependents, ecoresistors, and ecoentrepreneur organizations. The first level of classification organizes them based on sources of funding, and the second level organizes them based on a variety of characteristics including their main agenda, relationship to the government, and level of organization. Environmental organizations can also be classified by their members’ social class, resources, and agendas. Environmentalism of the poor and environmentalism of the affluent are different, and they often aim to achieve different goals through different means.
Environmentalism of the affluent often takes the form of transnational funders, or ecoimperialists. Although they believe their agenda to be beneficial, not all Ecuadorians see it as such. After all, they are wealthy foreigners seeking to push their agenda in Ecuador. Often, they bypass smaller, more local organizations, which does not help their public relations.
Ecodependents are national organizations (NGOs) that are funded by/work with ecoimperialists; they sometimes draw criticism due to their relationship with these foreign groups. Ecodependent organizations are able to accomplish quite a lot, including Ecuador’s first debt-for-nature swap. However, they often must bend to the will of their donors, and sacrifice their own agenda for that of their ecoimperialists partners.
Ecoresistors do not necessarily form organizations- they create movements. They work on a much more local scale than the previously mentioned organizations, and often involve the community. Ecoresistors push their own agenda, contrary to ecodependents; this agenda is most often the fight against development, namely resource extraction. Although not seen in a positive light by some, ecoresistors provide an important social aspect to Ecuador’s environmental protection.
Some groups/companies have been able to turn environmental protection into a profitable business. These are ecoentrepreneur organizations. They often focus on issues closely tied to humans, such as access to clean water. Because these organizations provide valuable services to Ecuadorians, they have some of the best relationships with the public.
Personally, I agree with this method of classification, and I believe that all four categories of environmental organizations have something positive to offer Ecuador. Of the four, ecoimperialist organizations are perhaps the most controversial. However, they also have the resources to get the most done. Consider the Rainforest Trust, for example. In 2014, they partnered with Ecuador’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Fundación Jocotoco (a local ecodependent organization), the Municipality of Quito, and the Quito Water Authority to purchase the last 6,100 acres of property needed to both complete a 270,000 acre refuge for the Andean Condor, as well as “secure an important source of drinking water” for the city of Quito (Rainforest Trust, 2014). Without the support of a transnational funder, this project would not have been completed. Although ecoimperialists may be seen as overstepping their boundaries at times, their efforts will still help the country in the long term. The other kinds of organizations (ecodependents, ecoentrepreneurs, and ecoresistors) also benefit Ecuador, despite their differing agendas.
I would also contend that the strength of Ecuador’s government changes which category of organization works the best. In times of weak government, large and resourceful ecoimperialist groups can accomplish the most. Although it may be unpopular with Ecuadorians, they can bypass the state and any push their agenda unencumbered by law and regulation. Ecoresistors, which the state often sees as adversarial, also flourish during times of weak government. Ecoentrepreneurs, and ecodependents to a lesser extent, do better with a stronger government, as their relationship with the state is cooperative.
It will be interesting to see the direction these organizations take in the future. Although the current Ecuadorian government under Correa seems stable, it may not stay that way. Understanding the complex relationship between Ecuador’s environmental organizations, their various agendas, and the state is key in studying Ecuador’s progress towards sustainable development.
References
Rainforest Trust Announces Largest Conservation Land Purchase in Tropics. (2014, January 23). Retrieved September 06, 2017, from https://www.rainforesttrust.org/news/rainforest-trust-announces-largest-conservation-land-purchase-tropics/
Environmental organizations can be split into numerous classifications. The four “ideal types” presented in this chapter are ecoimperialists, ecodependents, ecoresistors, and ecoentrepreneur organizations. The first level of classification organizes them based on sources of funding, and the second level organizes them based on a variety of characteristics including their main agenda, relationship to the government, and level of organization. Environmental organizations can also be classified by their members’ social class, resources, and agendas. Environmentalism of the poor and environmentalism of the affluent are different, and they often aim to achieve different goals through different means.
Environmentalism of the affluent often takes the form of transnational funders, or ecoimperialists. Although they believe their agenda to be beneficial, not all Ecuadorians see it as such. After all, they are wealthy foreigners seeking to push their agenda in Ecuador. Often, they bypass smaller, more local organizations, which does not help their public relations.
Ecodependents are national organizations (NGOs) that are funded by/work with ecoimperialists; they sometimes draw criticism due to their relationship with these foreign groups. Ecodependent organizations are able to accomplish quite a lot, including Ecuador’s first debt-for-nature swap. However, they often must bend to the will of their donors, and sacrifice their own agenda for that of their ecoimperialists partners.
Ecoresistors do not necessarily form organizations- they create movements. They work on a much more local scale than the previously mentioned organizations, and often involve the community. Ecoresistors push their own agenda, contrary to ecodependents; this agenda is most often the fight against development, namely resource extraction. Although not seen in a positive light by some, ecoresistors provide an important social aspect to Ecuador’s environmental protection.
Some groups/companies have been able to turn environmental protection into a profitable business. These are ecoentrepreneur organizations. They often focus on issues closely tied to humans, such as access to clean water. Because these organizations provide valuable services to Ecuadorians, they have some of the best relationships with the public.
Personally, I agree with this method of classification, and I believe that all four categories of environmental organizations have something positive to offer Ecuador. Of the four, ecoimperialist organizations are perhaps the most controversial. However, they also have the resources to get the most done. Consider the Rainforest Trust, for example. In 2014, they partnered with Ecuador’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Fundación Jocotoco (a local ecodependent organization), the Municipality of Quito, and the Quito Water Authority to purchase the last 6,100 acres of property needed to both complete a 270,000 acre refuge for the Andean Condor, as well as “secure an important source of drinking water” for the city of Quito (Rainforest Trust, 2014). Without the support of a transnational funder, this project would not have been completed. Although ecoimperialists may be seen as overstepping their boundaries at times, their efforts will still help the country in the long term. The other kinds of organizations (ecodependents, ecoentrepreneurs, and ecoresistors) also benefit Ecuador, despite their differing agendas.
I would also contend that the strength of Ecuador’s government changes which category of organization works the best. In times of weak government, large and resourceful ecoimperialist groups can accomplish the most. Although it may be unpopular with Ecuadorians, they can bypass the state and any push their agenda unencumbered by law and regulation. Ecoresistors, which the state often sees as adversarial, also flourish during times of weak government. Ecoentrepreneurs, and ecodependents to a lesser extent, do better with a stronger government, as their relationship with the state is cooperative.
It will be interesting to see the direction these organizations take in the future. Although the current Ecuadorian government under Correa seems stable, it may not stay that way. Understanding the complex relationship between Ecuador’s environmental organizations, their various agendas, and the state is key in studying Ecuador’s progress towards sustainable development.
References
Rainforest Trust Announces Largest Conservation Land Purchase in Tropics. (2014, January 23). Retrieved September 06, 2017, from https://www.rainforesttrust.org/news/rainforest-trust-announces-largest-conservation-land-purchase-tropics/