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The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty

Publication ,  Journal Article
Folch, C
Published in: Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology
January 1, 2015

Although Paraguay produces (and exports) more hydroelectric energy per capita than any other country in the region, these resources are situated on the border with Argentina and Brazil, inflecting national energy matters with transnational complexities. Popular sectors framed Itaipú (with Brazil) and Yacyretá (with Argentina) dams as imperialistic predation. In the last decade, the Paraguayan nation became the possessor of "hydroelectric sovereignty," which is always threatened. Energy experts from the left conceptualized hydroelectric sovereignty as the proper relationship of "nation" to "territory" mediated by the "state," through grassroots struggles to regain control of the country's hydroelectric resources. As part of an ethic of renewable energy, "hydroelectric sovereignty" results in a new kind of territoriality. Through the discursive and civic creation of hydroelectric sovereignty in an electoral campaign to "recover hydroelectric sovereignty," I show how "nature" and "nation" are altered by hydroelectric statecraft, political-economic and symbolic structures that emanate from hydroelectricity.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology

DOI

EISSN

1935-4940

ISSN

1935-4932

Publication Date

January 1, 2015

Volume

20

Issue

2

Start / End Page

242 / 263

Related Subject Headings

  • 4404 Development studies
  • 4401 Anthropology
  • 1601 Anthropology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Folch, C. (2015). The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty. Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology, 20(2), 242–263. https://doi.org/10.1111/jlca.12147
Folch, C. “The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty.” Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology 20, no. 2 (January 1, 2015): 242–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/jlca.12147.
Folch C. The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty. Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology. 2015 Jan 1;20(2):242–63.
Folch, C. “The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty.” Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology, vol. 20, no. 2, Jan. 2015, pp. 242–63. Scopus, doi:10.1111/jlca.12147.
Folch C. The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty. Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology. 2015 Jan 1;20(2):242–263.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology

DOI

EISSN

1935-4940

ISSN

1935-4932

Publication Date

January 1, 2015

Volume

20

Issue

2

Start / End Page

242 / 263

Related Subject Headings

  • 4404 Development studies
  • 4401 Anthropology
  • 1601 Anthropology