Natural Resources, Livelihoods, Development Politics and Gender

The modern idea of development is predicated on harnessing natural resources and exploiting them towards what is said to be a common purpose. Doing so is meant to generate social wealth and a better life for all--lifting people out of poverty, improving infrastructure and ultimately, empowering individuals and communities to make their own life-choices. In reality, this model of development has resulted in environmental degradation and despoiling of natural resources. Its benefits have not accrued equally to all sections of society; indeed, those already marginalised are more vulnerable to the consequences of ecological degradation.
The papers in this panel examine the gender politics of resource access and livelihoods in this view of development.