Difference and conflict in the struggle over natural resources: A political ecology framework

Arturo Escobar examines the increasing number of conflicts over natural resources around the world in response to neo-liberal globalization. He argues that such escalating environmental conflicts can be conceptually understood through three inter-related rubrics: economic, ecological, and cultural. His interest is in the relationship between difference and equality of access in economic, ecological, and cultural distribution conflicts in order to set out a political ecology framework. He asks that we treat economic, ecological, and cultural distribution as equally important. If we are to live in a peaceful, just and balanced modern social world we can no longer deny people their rights to their own cultures, ecologies, and economies.