"Science and Environment in Chile: the Politics of Expert Advice in a Neoliberal Democracy" - Book Launch

Event Date: 

Monday, October 29, 2018 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Event Location: 

  • Mosher Alumni House

Event Contact: 

Joanne Nowak, Academic Coordinator, UCSB Blum Center for Global Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development (joanne.nowak@ucsb.edu)

Join us for a launch and discussion of Dr. Javiera Barandiarán's latest book -  Science and Environment in Chile: the Politics of Expert Advice in Neoliberal Democracy, with the participation of Dr. Kim Fortun (Anthropology, UCI) and Dr. David Pellow (Environmental Studies, UCSB) on Monday, October 29th at 6:00PM.

In this book, Dr. Barandiarán examines a series of environmental conflicts in which the state tried to act as a “neutral broker” rather than the protector of the common good. She argues that this shift in the role of the state - occurring in other countries as well - is driven in part by the political ideology of neoliberalism, which favors market mechanisms and private initiatives over the actions of state agencies. Rather than investing in the scientific and technical capacity to manage large-scale projects, Chile represents an "umpire" state that purchases scientific advice from markets.

Join us for a lively discussion on the relationship between science, democracy and environmental governance on Monday, October 29th at 6:00PM in Mosher Alumni House. Food will be served.

This event is being presented by the Program in Latin American Studies, the Blum Center for Global Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development, the Mellon Sawyer Seminar on Energy Justice in Global Perspective and the Department of Global Studies. Dr. Javiera Barandiarán is Assistant Professor in the Global Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara.