Inclusion in Foreign Environmental Policy: The case of Indigenous People from Latin America

Ailed Valencia Herrera

Master's thesis

Začlenění do zahraniční politiky životního prostředí: Případ domorodých obyvatel Latinské Ameriky

Abstract:

The thesis "Inclusion in Foreign Environmental Policy: The case of Indigenous People from Latin America" is an analysis based on postmodern perspectives of IR. The study aims to analyze the socio-political challenges that alter the inclusion of indigenous people from Latin America in Foreign Environmental Policy (FEP) through a qualitative design (collecting theoretical and empirical data). First, by identifying the challenges faced by indigenous people at a regional level, the study contributes to the analysis of observable and non-observable features of vulnerability in the region. Secondly, by examining their level of inclusion in international environmental institutions, the study examines critically the level of access, involvement, and influence indigenous people have in Foreign Environmental Policy-Making. This is achieved by the utilization of a transversal tool named "multidimensional view of inclusion". Finally, the study has replied to the question: Do indigenous people in Latin America face socio-political challenges that may hamper their level of inclusion in Foreign Environmental Policy-Making? If so, in what way? It has been noted that regional challenges are rooted in structural marginalization which jeopardizes their actual engagement in Foreign Environmental Spheres. Although indigenous people from Latin America get access and are to some extent involved in FEP, the decisions at the international level hardly reflect their claims and attend to their climate urgencies.

Abstract:

The thesis "Inclusion in Foreign Environmental Policy: The case of Indigenous People from Latin America" is an analysis based on postmodern perspectives of IR. The study aims to analyze the socio-political challenges that alter the inclusion of indigenous people from Latin America in Foreign Environmental Policy (FEP) through a qualitative design (collecting theoretical and empirical data). First, by identifying the challenges faced by indigenous people at a regional level, the study contributes to the analysis of observable and non-observable features of vulnerability in the region. Secondly, by examining their level of inclusion in international environmental institutions, the study examines critically the level of access, involvement, and influence indigenous people have in Foreign Environmental Policy-Making. This is achieved by the utilization of a transversal tool named "multidimensional view of inclusion". Finally, the study has replied to the question: Do indigenous people in Latin America face socio-political challenges that may hamper their level of inclusion in Foreign Environmental Policy-Making? If so, in what way? It has been noted that regional challenges are rooted in structural marginalization which jeopardizes their actual engagement in Foreign Environmental Spheres. Although indigenous people from Latin America get access and are to some extent involved in FEP, the decisions at the international level hardly reflect their claims and attend to their climate urgencies.

Keywords

zahraniční environmentální politika, inkluze domorodých obyvatel, environmentální začlenění

Keywords

Foreign Environmental Policy, Environmental inclusion, Indigenous People Inclusion

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 25. 6. 2022

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 6. 9. 2022
• Supervisor: Jakub Eberle
• Reader: Jaroslav Weinfurter

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme:
International and Diplomatic Studies