Journal of Indian School of Political Economy

Subodh Wagle ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian School of Political Economy, IN

Abstract

The book under review, as its subtitle suggests, is about alternative forestry, or, in a larger sense, about alternative development strategies. However, it lacks a background discussion on alternative development discourse in general. The first section of this review article, hence, is a brief review of the theory and practice of alternative development intended to provide the necessary substantive context for the readers. The following sections of this review (Section 2 to Section 8) deal with the major issues covered in the book. The last section contains brief concluding remarks from the reviewer.

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Subodh Wagle ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian School of Political Economy, IN

Abstract

This paper follows up with the paper by the same author published in the July-September 1997 issue of this Journal. This paper is also divided into two main parts. In Part I, a framework for analysis of struggles by local communities against development projects is discussed in brief. This framework has already been discussed in detail in the earlier paper mentioned before.

In Part II of this paper, the struggle against the Enron power project by local communities in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state is analysed at some length. Following the framework described in Part I, the discussion in Part II elaborates, first, on the details of the project and the contentious issues and, then, on the main actors in the controversy. It also presents a brief chronology of major events in the grassischolar_mains struggle. Finally, using the seven steps outlined in the framework, the discussion in Part II systematically analyses the political dynamics of the struggle in order to understand the failure of the movement to discontinue the project.

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Subodh Wagle ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian School of Political Economy, IN

Abstract

The paper is divided in two parts. In Part I, a framework for analysis of struggles of local and rural communities against development projects is proposed and discussed in detail. In this part, the theoretical foundations of the framework, including the objective, underlying theoretical perspective, and various definitions and concepts, are described in the beginning. Then, the nature and importance of three primary components of the framework - a brief review of substantive issues, chronology and classification of main actors - are explained. In the final section, the seven-phase tool to analyse political dynamics of the struggles is discussed in detail.

In Part II of the paper, the struggle against the Narmada Dam is analysed using the framework presented in Part I. Following the pattern set in Part I, the discussion in Part II covers a brief review of issues, provides a brief chronology of events, and discusses classification of main actors. In the subsequent section, the political dynamics of the struggle against Narmada Dam is analysed in detail.

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Subodh Wagle ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian School of Political Economy, Pune, IN

Abstract

The mainstream or the conventional development model and the paradigm guiding it have been subjected to criticisms from diverse perspectives. After the initial euphoria in the 1950s and 1960s over gains of development, the theoretical shortcomings and practical failures of the conventional development model started becoming evident. It was then put to criticism by some social scientists as well as development planners and administrators.

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Subodh Wagle ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian School of Political Economy, IN

Abstract

Environmentalism in India is a matter more of a passion than of reason. As it has become a prisoner of intense ideological battles, an informed but dispassionate assessment of its contribution to Indian thinking on politics and development is a rarity. In this context, the book entitled Environmental Politics: People 's Lives and Development Choices by Sumi Krishna is a welcome effort. Sumi Krishna is a senior journalist who has been consistently writing on developmental and environmental issues.

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