This seminar will present a research plan on cultivating socio-ecological sustainability by democratic means in Northern Ireland.  The research will first critique neoliberal post-conflict transition in Northern Ireland that has led to socio-ecological unsustainability associated with the rise of environmental crime. However, almost no research has covered the issue. To narrow the research gap, this research conceptualises socio-ecological sustainability as an ideal of a sustainability, peace and security nexus and builds its theoretical framework on democratic means upon participatory justice, ecological agonism and green republicanism. Taking together as one theory of 'green agonism', the research explores ways to take advantages of deep difference between the government and communities over decisions and actions around the Mobuoy site in Derry, known to the public as the largest illegal dump in Europe, in promoting intergroup and North-South dialogues on environmental sustainability and everyday peace and security in Northern Ireland (and the island of Ireland).  

Speaker Bio

Juneseo Hwang is an activist researcher whose main research interests are environmental peacebuilding and policing, and environmental impacts of war. He is also a member of the Gathering, a Derry-based grassroots environmental network. Before coming to the QUB, he was a research intern in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute where he studied police reform and transnational environmental crime in conflict-affected societies.

To register email happpsandirseminars@gmail.com