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Biofuels Expansion and Their Differentiated Social-political Impacts in Developing Countries: A Comparative Account between Land Grabs and Social Sustainability in Honduras.

Luna Galván, Mauricio LU (2012) SIMV07 20122
Graduate School
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The present study is concerned with the expansion of biofuel production and two revealing and contrasting impacts caused in Honduras.
The biofuels complex emerges as a sustainable alternative to cope with pressing problems related to climate change, energy insecurity and environmental degradation. However such an argument becomes problematic as land expansion for biofuels entails land-use changes and limitations to land tenure and access to the rural poor. The latter is recently known as the phenomenon of land grabbing in developing countries.
The problematic to tackle around these biofuels’ impacts is captured in two cases in Honduras. The first one, showing a case in which biofuel expansion has created political conflict, displacement... (More)
The present study is concerned with the expansion of biofuel production and two revealing and contrasting impacts caused in Honduras.
The biofuels complex emerges as a sustainable alternative to cope with pressing problems related to climate change, energy insecurity and environmental degradation. However such an argument becomes problematic as land expansion for biofuels entails land-use changes and limitations to land tenure and access to the rural poor. The latter is recently known as the phenomenon of land grabbing in developing countries.
The problematic to tackle around these biofuels’ impacts is captured in two cases in Honduras. The first one, showing a case in which biofuel expansion has created political conflict, displacement and dispossession for rural communities and peasants struggling for land. On the other hand, another case shows a small-scale project that enhances sustainable development and socially inclusive results.
The study compares the contrasting impacts based on empirical data from reports and studies about both cases. The aim is to understand the differences of both cases from a critique neoliberalism and a from a social sustainable development approach in order to analyse the reasons behind those differences.
My argument draws on the assumption of an existent convergence of actors and approaches which are intrinsically materialized on the contrasting impacts. Therefore actors and approaches play key roles in those differentiated impacts. The study also reveals the emerging complexities around biofuels with key roles played by the state, governments and international organizations in developing countries. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Luna Galván, Mauricio LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Biofuels Expansion and Their Differentiated Social-political Impacts: A Comparative Account between Land Grabs and Social Sustainability in Honduras.
course
SIMV07 20122
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
biofuels, land grabbing, social sustainability, social-political conflicts, dispossession, neoliberalization, Honduras.
language
English
id
3191772
date added to LUP
2012-11-30 15:41:27
date last changed
2012-11-30 15:41:27
@misc{3191772,
  abstract     = {{The present study is concerned with the expansion of biofuel production and two revealing and contrasting impacts caused in Honduras.
The biofuels complex emerges as a sustainable alternative to cope with pressing problems related to climate change, energy insecurity and environmental degradation. However such an argument becomes problematic as land expansion for biofuels entails land-use changes and limitations to land tenure and access to the rural poor. The latter is recently known as the phenomenon of land grabbing in developing countries.
The problematic to tackle around these biofuels’ impacts is captured in two cases in Honduras. The first one, showing a case in which biofuel expansion has created political conflict, displacement and dispossession for rural communities and peasants struggling for land. On the other hand, another case shows a small-scale project that enhances sustainable development and socially inclusive results.
The study compares the contrasting impacts based on empirical data from reports and studies about both cases. The aim is to understand the differences of both cases from a critique neoliberalism and a from a social sustainable development approach in order to analyse the reasons behind those differences.
My argument draws on the assumption of an existent convergence of actors and approaches which are intrinsically materialized on the contrasting impacts. Therefore actors and approaches play key roles in those differentiated impacts. The study also reveals the emerging complexities around biofuels with key roles played by the state, governments and international organizations in developing countries.}},
  author       = {{Luna Galván, Mauricio}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Biofuels Expansion and Their Differentiated Social-political Impacts in Developing Countries: A Comparative Account between Land Grabs and Social Sustainability in Honduras.}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}