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Abstract:
Guided by treadmill of production theory, the paper shows how rising world demand for meats has contributed to deforestation in the southern portion of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, specifically in the state of Mato Grosso, through the expansion of both cattle herding and soybean agriculture. These economic activities in Mato Grosso are described as part of a global agricultural treadmill of production. Their expansion in the state has led to deforestation in existing private properties and in public forested lands, large portions of which have been taken over and commodified. In addition to exploring the role of economic relationships on deforestation, the paper describes the ideology that lubricates the treadmill of production in Mato Grosso. It argues that ideology plays a vital role in the ecopolitics of development vs. preservation. Success in markets for agricultural products has led the Brazilian government to aim at transforming the country into an agricultural superpower, a goal in line with nationalist development ideology that can be adverse to preservation. The paper also describes how ideology affects local people's perception of environmentalist organizations and their calls for preservation. Due to their opposition to commodity agriculture, environmentalist organizations have become the target of hostility from nationalist and pro-development groups who see them as being against development, and thus anti Brazil. Passages from field interviews conducted during a visit to Mato Grosso in April 2007 and news accounts are used to illustrate how ideology helps sustain the status quo. Statistical analysis of data on a municipal level for the state of Mato Grosso is used to reveal the effect of cattle herding and soybean agriculture on deforestation.

Abstract:
The paper presents a world-systemic treadmill of production analysis exploring the major obstacles to transition to a green economy both in the United States and globally. It argues that the treadmill of production and its associated sociological structures such as ideology, politics, culture, and social institutions in general have created major impediments to the development of a green economy. Capitalist elites have attempted to maintain the status quo of an environmentally unsustainable economy in order to avoid risks and maximize profits. The paper also argues that world-systemic inequalities pose major obstacles to transition to green. In their drive to develop and catch up with the core, peripheral and semi-peripheral countries are reproducing the treadmill of production of the developed countries and/or allowing the transfer of environmentally harmful industry from the core. The paper adds that these countries view development as a right and frequently interpret calls for environmental controls coming from core countries as environmental imperialism. The paper also touches on the impact of the environmentalist movement as an anti-systemic movement. It argues that despite some positive changes brought about by environmentalism, systemic forces have had economic and political resources to maintain the status quo. The paper concludes by suggesting that due to the political economy of the treadmill of production and global inequalities, major impediments to transition to a green economy will persist into the future. Additionally, it also suggests that “environmental manifestations” such as hurricanes, droughts, rising sea waters, etc., caused by climate change will likely be the major motor of transition to green in the future. It predicts that the process of change will be reactive and costly.

climate change, global warming, treadmill of production, world-system, ecopolitics, capitalism, green transition, green economy, theory, environmental sociology, ecopolitics, environmental sociology

Abstract:
Changes in the ecopolitics of the Brazilian government in the 1980s and 1990s were a result of a « greening » of the ecopolitics of the world-system, which also added to the political leverage of Brazilian grassroots movements. They movements were able to forge alliances with international environmentalist organizations and receive substantial media coverage. The Brazilian government, in turn, was forced to pay attention to grassroots environmentalists in order to avoid sanctions from international lending institutions. Without world-systemic changes, Brazilian ecopolitics would have remained slow in changing ; additionally non-govermental organization and the media will play a key role in changing global ecopolitics in the future because without their pressure, governments are reluctant to change and implement environmental policies.

green, greening, ecopolitics, amazon, rain forest, Brazilian, Brazil, environmental sociology, world-system

Abstract:
The paper shows how the destruction and the preservation of the Brazilian Amazon rain forest are tied to Brazil's links with the capitalist world-economy. It divides the institutions, social groups, etc., affecting Brazilian ecopolitics into world-systemic and antisystemic agents. The systemic agents discussed are Brazilian military rule, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and multinational organizations. The antisystemic agents discussed are the environmental movement, both internationally and within Brazil, and grassroots resistance. These antisystemic agents exerted pressure on the government of major First World countries which in turn exerted pressure on international organizations to stop environmentally unsound projects in the forest. They counterbalanced the power of systemic forces, substantially changing the ecopolitics of the world-system. Their efforts were successful due to an increasing public awareness of the state of the global environment. Public opinion gave leverage to antisystemic forces. The paper concludes by arguing that the survival of democratic institutions in Brazil is imperative for a continuing debate on the state of the Brazilian environment.

world-system, Brazil, Brazilian, rain forest, ecopolitics, deforestation, Amazon