Theory, change and the search for epistemological courage in shaping a new world order

No matter how narrowly you focus your spatial or temporal lenses, you are bound to catch sight of multiple significant challenges to human community. Many of these challenges are shared, such as Covid-19, though their impacts on individuals and groups are felt unevenly. Some challenges are immediate and existential, such as the wars in Ukraine, Syria, and Yemen. Others, such as race, gender, caste, and class-based inequalities, are deeply embedded in social structures, providing privilege and persecution, and reward and oppression in unequal measures. And climate change, though slower moving, holds out the prospect of leading to total social collapse. How to make sense of these dramatic changes? This essay explores the adequacy of theories of IR and G/IPE in explaining the emergent world (dis)order. It argues that, whether orthodox or critical, theory must find a way to centre humanity within the biosphere if theory is to adequately inform practice

From conflict to collaboration: Atewa Forestgovernance

The problem of forest degradation and loss has become theconcern of many countries. To address this challenge, somecollaborate in sustainable forest management. The mostsuccessful outcomes, however, are observed where localparticipation is an essential part of conservation efforts. InGhana, forests have experienced various degrees ofexploitation over the years, resulting in their ecologicaldecline. Despite its designation as a protected area for bio-diversity and ecosystem services, the Atewa Range ForestReserve in Ghana has been significantly impacted bydeforestation, illegal mining, and other destructive activi-ties

Transforming water resources management in South Africa. 'Catchment management agencies' and the ideal of democratic development

This article addresses the dilemma of the democratic development of water resources management in the context of Post-Apartheid South Africa and unequal access to water. Using a political sociology of public policy approach as a conceptual framework, this article focuses on the actual functioning of the catchment management agencies (CMAs). On the basis of case studies’ analysis, it is argued that CMAs are essentially political arenas although the semi-structured interviews conducted reveal that this political dimension is mainly denied by most of CMAs members and staff as well as by policy makers. Finally, the risks of professionalising interest representation within CMAs are evoked.The French Embassy of South Africa and the South African Department of Science and Technology as part of the Joint South African–French network for research in science and technology—SAFeWater Arise project : New Water Governance over Water Resources for Sustainable Rural Development : Research on Social, Economic and Institutional Aspects.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1328hb2016Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmen