Journal article
Socioenvironmental Injustice across the Global Divide
Sociology of development (Oakland, Ca.), Vol.10(1), pp.61-90
03/01/2024
DOI: 10.1525/sod.2023.0008
Abstract
This paper explores the connections between two seemingly disparate cases of socioenvironmental injustice: Flint’s water crisis in Michigan, USA, and Union Carbide’s toxic chemical release in Bhopal, India. Engaging our empirical and theoretical insights from these two cases, this paper illustrates how marginalized people in distant settings can face similar socioenvironmental struggles. Considering Bhopal and Flint as instances of slow violence and institutional betrayal, the article makes two key arguments. First, treating these crises as discrete events obscures their sustained assault on people deemed expendable by their governments. Second, institutions charged with protecting people in distress can magnify and extend suffering. The paper analyzes institutional betrayal as a mechanism of slow violence: survivors can suffer lingering consequences when seeking restitution from regulatory bodies that may be responsible or complicit. We find that government responses and denials have caused prolonged violence in these regions. The paper concludes by urging scholars to compare socioenvironmental injustice globally, to believe residents, and to reject false end dates for crises.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Socioenvironmental Injustice across the Global Divide
- Creators
- Nikhil Deb - California Polytechnic State UniversityLouise Seamster - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Sociology of development (Oakland, Ca.), Vol.10(1), pp.61-90
- DOI
- 10.1525/sod.2023.0008
- ISSN
- 2374-538X
- eISSN
- 2374-538X
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/27/2023
- Date published
- 03/01/2024
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology; African American Studies; Law Faculty; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984476433102771
Metrics
18 Record Views