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New Books Network

Omar Dahbour, "Ecosovereignty: A Political Principle for the Environmental Crisis" (Routledge, 2024)

Mar 1, 2025
Omar Dahbour, a professor of philosophy at Hunter College, dives into the urgent concept of ecosovereignty as a response to today's environmental crisis. He challenges traditional political theories, arguing they fall short in tackling issues like climate change and extractivism. Dahbour advocates for a rethinking of sovereignty, emphasizing the rights of communities to protect their environments. He discusses the importance of integrating local governance, food sovereignty, and the intersection of ecological justice with self-determination, aiming for a sustainable future for all.
01:07:10

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Quick takeaways

  • Traditional political frameworks are inadequate for addressing the environmental crisis, necessitating a reconstruction of conceptual tools for effective discourse.
  • Extractivism serves as a central concern in ecological degradation, highlighting the need for sustainable resource management and addressing historical exploitation practices.

Deep dives

Challenges of Traditional Political Philosophy in Addressing Environmental Issues

Traditional social and political theories often struggle to adequately address the complexities of the environmental crisis. The existing vocabulary, rooted in nation-states and jurisdictional boundaries, is insufficient for problems that transcend these constructs. This limitation is particularly evident in how political philosophy tends to overlook extractivism—the practice of exploiting natural resources—which lies at the heart of ecological degradation. An urgent need arises to reassess and reconstruct our conceptual frameworks to effectively engage with contemporary environmental challenges.

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