Mračni tonovi zelene: Politička borba za narativ mladih pokreta za zaštitu životne sredine Zapadnog Balkana

English below

Desnica se već dugo povezuje sa negiranjem klimatskih promena i opravdavanjem industrijskog zagađenja. Međutim, izgleda da se ova retorika menja, a pitanja zaštite životne sredine pojavljuju se kao centralna za desničarsku politiku. Na Zapadnom Balkanu, ekološki problemi se pojavljuju kao mobilizatorski faktor različitih političkih aktera i društvenih pokreta. Teme koje tradicionalno okupiraju progresivni zeleni, sada dolaze u fokus populističke desnice, otvarajući nova polja za dopiranje do i angažovanje inače politički pasivnih građana. Predvođene neodrživom reindustrijalizacijom, rastom u građevinskom sektoru i novim, često stranim ulaganjima u rudarstvo, fosilna goriva, zauzimanje zemljišta i uništavanje prirode, pretnje po životnu sredinu sve više mobilišu građane na talasu protivljenja vladajućim elitama. Uočivši gubitak EU perspektive i povećanu post-činjeničnu krizu tokom pandemije, desnica ne propušta svoju šansu. Borba za prirodu često je oslikana nacionalističkim i tradicionalističkim narativima.

S druge strane, čini se da zeleni i levica ne idu u korak sa ovakvim razvojem događaja, slabih sposobnosti da ponude kredibilne alternative često populističkim narativima lokalnih pokreta. Inicijative civilnog društva za zaštitu životne sredine i organizacije za društvenu pravdu i ljudska prava nisu dovoljno povezane i njihovo znanje i iskustva su atomizovani. Pored toga, mnogi akteri insistiraju na tome da je životna sredina suštinski apolitično pitanje, optužujući jedni druge za “preotimanje“. Ovi procesi se ne dešavaju samo na Zapadnom Balkanu, ali postoje važne specifičnosti vezane za noviju istoriju i genealogiju zelenog pokreta. U kontekstu zamagljene EU perspektive za Zapadni Balkan, i u odsustvu jakih zelenih i levih alternativa, da li će desničarski populizam uspeti da prisvoji temu ekološke pravde? Kako se progresivnim snagama može pomoći da povedu u ekološkim borbama?

Ovaj razgovor otvara jedno od mnogih važnih pitanja o budućnost zelene politike u Evropi. Zadovoljstvo nam je da ovom prilikom predstavimo i prevode na naš jezik publikacija sa širom analizom političke ekologije iz perspektive zelenih – dva izdanja Green European Journal: A World Alive: Green Politics in Europe and Beyond i 2049: Open Future.

Govornici:

Balša Lubarda je ekološki sociolog specijalizovan za komunikaciju u zaštiti životne sredine, radikalizam, desničarsku politiku i političke ideologije. U Centru za analizu radikalne desnice je doktorski saradnik i šef Jedinice za istraživanje ideologije, a takođe je član Inicijative za emancipatornu ruralnu politiku (Evropska sekcija). Njegova istraživanja su objavljena u recenziranim časopisima kao što su Environmental Values, Sociologia Ruralis i neakademskim medijima, uključujući New Eastern Europe, Fair Observer, Open Democracy, Undisciplined Environments, Altre Economia itd.

Damir Zejnulahović je istraživač-saradnik na Institutu za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju i doktorand sociologije na Filozofskom fakultetu Univerziteta u Beogradu. Fokus njegovih istraživačkih interesovanja su politička sociologija, sociologija znanja, kritika ideologije i analiza razvoja kapitalističkog svetskog sistema.

Iva Marković je aktivistkinja za zaštitu životne sredine i istraživačica političke ekologije iz Beograda. Trenutno je fokusirana na vodu kao javno dobro i na alternativne politike održivog upravljanja prirodnim resursima. Interesuju je zajednička dobra (commons), društveni aspekti klimatskih promena, pravedna energetska tranzicija i ekofeminizam. Koosnivačica je inicijative Pravo na vodu, organizacije za političku ekologiju Polekol, mreže žena za životnu sredinu i aktivna je u kampanji Spasimo plavo srce Evrope protiv malih hidroelektrana na Balkanu.

Moderatorka: Aleksandra Tomanić, izvršna direktorka European Fund For Balkans i Ujedinjeni Balkan za čist vazduh

Praktične informacije:

Registracija putem Zoom platforme je otvorena ovde: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZMtceyuqDotHdBOhZUOcp3TpxmPt…
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Simultano prevođenje sa BHS na Engleski jezik biće obezbeđeno za ovaj događaj.

The right-wing has for a long time been associated with climate denial and justifications of industrial pollution. However, this rhetoric seems to be changing, and environmental issues are becoming central to right-wing politics. In the Western Balkans, environmental problems are emerging as a mobilizing factor across different political actors and social movements. Issues that are traditionally claimed by the progressive greens, are now coming into focus of the populist right, opening new fields for reaching and engaging otherwise politically passive citizens. Driven by the unsustainable re-industrialization, the growth in the construction sector, and new, often foreign investments in mining, fossil fuels, land grabs and destruction of nature, environmental threats are ever more mobilizing the citizens on the anti-establishment wave. Catching sight of the loss of the EU perspective and the increased post-truth crisis during the pandemic conditions, the right wing is not missing their chance. The struggle for nature is often painted with nationalist and traditionalist narratives.

On the other hand, the greens nor the left do not seem to be keeping pace with these developments, appearing unfit to offer credible alternatives to often populist narratives of the local grassroots movements. The environmental civil society initiatives, and the social justice and human rights organizations, are not connected enough, and their knowledge and experiences are atomized. In addition, many actors are insisting that the environment is intrinsically an apolitical issue, accusing each other of “hijacking” it. These processes are not only happening in the Western Balkans, however there is an important specific context related to the recent history and genealogy of the green movement. In the context of a blurred EU perspective for the Western Balkans, and in the absence of strong green and left alternatives, will the right wing populism succeed in appropriating the topic of environmental justice? How can the progressive forces be enabled to take the lead in environmental struggles?

The discussion is opening one of the important questions of many about the future of green politics in Europe. We are happy to use this opportunity to present Serbian translations of the publications with extended analysis of political ecology from the greens perspective – the Green European Journal editions: A World Alive: Green Politics in Europe and Beyond and 2049: Open Future.

Speakers:

Balša Lubarda is an environmental sociologist specializing in environmental communication, radicalism, right-wing politics and political ideologies. He is also a Doctoral Fellow and the Head of Ideology Research Unit at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right, as well as a member of the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (European branch). His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Environmental Values, Sociologia Ruralis and other non-academic outlets, including New Eastern Europe, Fair Observer, Open Democracy, Undisciplined Environments, Altre Economia etc.

Damir Zejnulahović is a research assistant at the Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory and a PhD student of sociology at the Faculty of Philosophy of Belgrade University. The focus of his research interests are political sociology, sociology of knowledge critique of ideology and the analysis of the development of the capitalist world system.

Iva Marković is an environmental activist and researcher in political ecology from Belgrade. Her current focus is on water as a common good, and alternative policies for sustainable governing of natural wealth. Her interests are in commons, natural resources management, social impact of climate change, degrowth, just energy transition and ecofeminism. She is involved in organizing left and green actors and networking inside the environmental movement. She is a co-founder of Right to Water (Pravo na vodu) initiative, organization for political ecology Polekol, Women For Environment network, and active in the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign against small hydro projects in the Balkans.

Moderator: Aleksandra Tomanić, Executive Director European Fund for Balkans/ Balkans United for Clean Air

Practical information:
Registration via Zoom platform is now open here: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZMtceyuqDotHdBOhZUOcp3TpxmPt…

​Simultaneous interpretation BHS – English will be provided for this event.