Blaming the weather, blaming the People: socio-environmental governance and a crisis attitude in the Brazilian electricity sector.
Journal
Ambiente & sociedade
ISSN
1414-753X
ISSN-Digital
1809-4422
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2016-06
Author(s)
Abstract
The governance of natural resources is intrinsically linked with the governance of people. However, in practice, social aspects are often viewed as secondary to more technical and pressing issues in the implementation of projects such as dams. The use of water for electricity production in Brazil is a cas d'excellence that exemplifies how the bypassing of socio-environmental safeguards and democratic participation of affected people leads to conflicts. These conflicts delay infrastructure works, such as the Belo Monte Dam, that are found to be crucial for the equilibrium of electricity supply. Recently, social manifestation have become the scapegoat for the sector's crisis. This article discussed the "electricity crisis" from a historical policy analysis perspective. It concludes that the present disregard for social and environmental procedures is a self-inflicted disease that only contributes to the longer-term state of conflicts in the expansion of the electricity sector in Brazil.
Language
English
Keywords
Electricity sector
dams
crisis
democratic governance of water
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
National Association of Graduate Courses and Research in Environment and Society – ANPPAS
Publisher place
São Paulo
Volume
19
Number
2
Eprints ID
254374