Climate Activism and Socio-political Challenges in Democracies

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

The panel intends to explore two most important socio-political trends related to the third-sector and civil society in the first two decades of the 21st century: one, the rapid growth of climate-related activism and social mobilization, which increasingly preoccupies the center of social activism in general, especially among the youth across regime types and geographic locations (Wu 2022); and, the other, following the “third wave” of democratic transition, foundational democratic institutions (e.g., checks-and-balances across different branches of power, an independent judicial system, freedom of speech and association) have been established in many countries. However, democratic institutions are increasingly challenged by the rise of populist political culture and movements, deterioration of socio-economic equality, refugee crises, and geopolitical conflicts in the recent decade. (Bosworth 2020; Huber et al. 2020; McCarthy 2019; Sonnenfeld 2018). The papers will zoom into various cases and examine the dynamics of climate activism and its impact on democratic institutions and practices. With case evidence from different regions, the panel will shed light on the role of civil society as a whole in the socio-political evolvement of all types of democracies in the broad context of global climate change.
In Europe and North America, climate activism and policy implementation are increasingly caught in the midst of the polarization of public opinions, populist mobilization, and electoral politics, which will have long-lasting impacts on democratic institutions. In South Asia, the core of climate activism means re-thinking and, to some extent, confronting, development, as freedom and a political ideology, which has been foundational for the democratically elected governments in the region. In East Asia (and specifically Taiwan), climate and environmental activism is situated at the crossroads of social contention related to natural resource management and economic development. In Southeast Asia, like all types of social mobilization, climate activism is increasingly aligned with local political identity politics and societal divides. For example, environmental protests against coal and/hydro power plants in some Southeast Asian countries (e.g., Cambodia, Indonesia) have been framed partially as limiting the influence of certain ethnic groups and defending national interests against foreign investments (mostly from China).
Utilizing the comparative method, all papers explore the impact of climate activism on democracy at different levels, in different policy fields, and from different analytical angles. Some preliminary findings suggest that climate activism has sunk into domestic politics, increasingly locally driven and bounded, despite being connected with global climate governance and narrative centered around the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. For democracies – old and new, the future of climate activism will significantly affect the resilience and effectiveness of democratic systems.

References

Bosworth, K., 2020. The People's Climate March: Environmental populism as political genre. Political Geography, 83, p.102281.
Huber, R.A., Fesenfeld, L. and Bernauer, T., 2020. Political populism, responsiveness, and public support for climate mitigation. Climate Policy, 20(3), pp.373-386.
McCarthy, J 2019, ‘Authoritarianism, populism, and the environment: comparative experiences, insights, and perspectives’, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 109(2), 301-313.
Paehlke, R. 2003. Democracy's dilemma: environment, social equity, and the global economy. MA: MIT Press.
Sonnenfeld, D.A. and Taylor, P.L., 2018, Liberalism, illiberalism, and the environment. Society & Natural Resources, 31(5), 515-524.
Wu, F 2022, 'Environmental movements in Asia', In M Grasso & M Giugni (eds.), Routledge Handbook on Environmental Movements, Routledge, Abingdon, 80-95.

Sub Unit

• The Third Sector, sustainable development, climate change, and climate justice

Moderator

• Maria Faina Lucero Diola, University of the Philippines

Individual Presentations

• The pursuit of self-reliance and the political interpellation of development: Relevance of climate activism in the South Asian context - George KJ, Indian Institute of Technology Jodpur; Farhat Naz, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

• Identity politics and climate activism in young democracies - Fengshi Wu, University of New South Wales

• Bridging the Socio-economic Inequality Gap in Adapting Climate Change: The Socio-Political Role of Civil Society in Taiwan - Herlin Chien, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology

• Climate activism and city politics - Ruth Simsa, Vienna University of Economics and Business