Department of Anthropology Speaker Series presents: David Sonnenfeld

In the conventional view, some form of liberal capitalist democracy is deemed necessary for the institutionalization of environmental ideas, organizations, institutions, and practices in contemporary societies. What happens, then, when the setting is a non-Western, industrializing society that lurches back and forth between civilian and military rule? For a dozen years (1993-2006), the 'Land of Smiles' enjoyed a brief, if at times chaotic, civilian rule. Today, Thailand is governed by the military-run 'National Council for Peace and Order'. How have environmental institutions, organizations & issues fared? Must Western-style democracy and environmental reform go hand in hand? These are important concerns not only for Thailand, but also for the many places around the world with 'non-democratic' governments. What are the true prerequisites for environmentalism? and for environmental reform?

Dr. David Sonnenfeld is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Affiliate Faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Syracuse University