Methodological reflections for an anthropologic approximation to socio-environmental conflicts in terms of political ecology

Abstract

This article proposes a strategy for developing anthropological research about socio-environmental conflicts by articulating four perspectives (historical, political, economic and subject-oriented) with the main dimensions that political ecology privileges (multi-scale, multi-temporal, multi-sited and multi-agent). To illustrate this methodology, the article discusses the case of rural communities in the Guaviare region that have been the target of environmental conservation policies in recent years. The argument highlights the relevance of anthropology to address the dense and multi-causal nature of environmental conflicts.