Collaborative Research: Identifying the Conditions Under Which Indigenous Communities Engage in Legal Mobilization

社会科学最大的理论谜题之一是“当所有人都面临投机取巧的诱惑时，是什么因素导致个人联合起来保护公共利益？”我们在对贫困、农村和土著社区的研究中研究了这个问题，以了解他们如何克服社会经济和地理障碍，发起依赖西方科学和国际合作的新形式的社会运动。与认为环境问题只涉及相对富裕的人的论点相反，我们认为，对社区生计的直接威胁可能会为贫困社区提供物质激励，促使他们走到一起，减轻对环境的影响。该项目通过分析调查、访谈和档案数据，评估个人、社区和跨国层面集体行动的决定因素。了解土著运动战略的变化--从对抗到与政府当局和科学家合作--应有助于社区和政策制定者更好地应对环境威胁。该项目还将帮助我们了解土著领导人如何提请注意他们面临的稀缺问题，同时利用气候变化框架帮助向国际组织和政府施压，解决我们这个时代最重要的问题之一。该项目解释了规模较小、明显无能为力的组织如何利用司法机构来挑战强大的全球能源利益。这些组织大多处于西方司法体系之外。最后，该项目将培训研究生，并在学术界和实践者中传播研究成果。

One of social science's greatest theoretical puzzles is "What factors lead individuals to join together collectively to protect a public good, when all face temptations to act opportunistically?" We examine this question in a study of poor, rural, indigenous communities to understand how they overcome socioeconomic and geographic barriers to launch new forms of social movements relying on Western science and international collaboration. In contrast to arguments that environmental issues concern only the relatively affluent, we argue that immediate threats to community livelihoods may provide material incentives for poor communities to come together to mitigate environmental impacts. The project evaluates determinants of collective action at the individual, community, and transnational levels through analysis of survey, interview, and archival data. Understanding changes in indigenous movement strategies - from confrontation to cooperation with government authorities and scientists - should help communities and policymakers better cope with environmental threats. The project will also help us understand how indigenous leaders draw attention to scarcities they face, while using the climate change frame to help pressure international organizations and governments regarding one of the most vital issues of our time. The project explains how small and apparently powerless groups largely outside of the Western system of justice can leverage judicial institutions to challenge powerful global energy interests. Finally, the project will train graduate students and disseminate findings among academics and practitioners.