Abstract

HOUART, Carlota. Reimagining international relations in times of ecological crisis: a dialogue on multispecies justice. Relações Internacionais [online]. 2023, n.79, pp.11-24.  Epub Dec 31, 2023. ISSN 1645-9199.  https://doi.org/10.23906/ri2023.79a02.

This article departs from a political ecology perspective to build a critique against the predominant anthropocentrism in international relations. It argues that the acknowledgement of the agency of non-human beings, and their inclusion and representation in political decision-making processes, is not only essential to create socio- ecological sustainability in the multi- species communities that we are all part of, but that it is also, fundamentally, a matter of justice. The article introduces the concept of multispecies justice as a possible ally in a dialogue for the reimagining of international relations, both as a discipline and as institutional practice, so that the latter can more adequately, effectively, and fairly respond to the current context of planetary crisis. As an illustrative example of what multispecies justice is (or can become) in practice, the article resorts to the case of rivers and to some of the non-anthropocentric initiatives that have been arising for their protection, conservation, or restoration.

Keywords : international relations; anthropocentrism; non-human agency; multispecies justice.

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