Connecting the dots ...

I would like to share some brief reflections on my recent experience in a graduate summer school at York University IPEESS (International Political Economy and Ecology Summer School 2011), followed by a conference and SSHRC funded workshop on the future of global governance. The title for the course was New Constitutionalism and Global Political Economy. 

"What we need is more 'demos-prudence' instead of jurisprudence"- Upendra Baxi 

Richard Falk- Left

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interact with a roster of leading lawyers and political economists and theorists, most notably Stephen Gill, Richard Falk, Upendra Baxi, Claire Cutler, Isabella Bakker, Ran Hirschl, Saskia Sassen, Janine Brodie and a few others regarding the developments in the recent past of our global political economy (particularly since the 80's) which have been labeled as a form of new constitutionalism; one which "locks-in" through legal (politico-juridical) mechanisms, specific frameworks and regulations that insulate neoliberal capitalism from democratic power. A particular session was on the topic of "enclosure of the commons",  during which water was a field of contestation. The interesting dialectic between water as a fundamental human right and the ongoing process of its commodification, which I have discussed in earlier blogs, and the ensuing discussions revealed the key to a missing link in my analysis for my future research project. 

The process of commodification of water (and the environment- i.e the creation of "weather derivatives" to commodify the risks involved with climate change)  is not only adopted as a market mechanism for greater capital accumulation, but in fact has also been constitutionalised, in a sense, through international, national and otherwise neo-forms of agreements and binding treaties, very much in tandem with neoliberal trade and investment frameworks. This has been severely affecting ecological practices and social reproduction, and has in fact reshaped our normative understandings of water. 


It is now my goal to further research what elements of new constitutionalism have been adopted (in other words the trends) in various geographical and social spaces and points of contact where neoliberal reforms in water policies have been employed and in instances met resistance. I believe the locations of resistance will unveil the cause of contestation. The "what" that is being contested, I speculate will be evidence of a similar pattern through which neoliberal capitalism has further infiltrated into areas of the environment and basic human needs (ie water) and is deeply infringing on and threatening local livelihoods. I hope as my research unfolds, I will better connect the dots...

On this note, "Abuela Grillo" is a very symbolic and short clip- shared with me by a friend from Brazil- on the water wars in Bolivia. It really encompasses the dialectical relationship between locals as stewards of water resources, their lack of appreciation of this resource at a certain point, and the process of exploitation by capitalism- and tells the story through the personification of water by the wonderful character of Abuela Grillo.