Pluralising Political Forests: Unpacking “the State” by Tracing Virunga's Charcoal Chain

Virunga National Park exemplifies the complex interplay of political forces shaping its conservation landscape. This study reveals that the notion of 'the state' is not monolithic but rather a dynamic entity influenced by regional warfare, non-state militarization, and transnational processes. By tracing the illegal charcoal chain within the park, researchers demonstrate how authority in Virunga has been transformed through particularization, transnationalization, and regionalization, leading to a regulatory landscape marked by overlapping and conflicting political forces. This approach challenges traditional understandings of stateness and highlights the multifaceted nature of political forests, offering new insights into the governance challenges faced by protected areas.

Marijnen, E., & Verweijen, J. (2018). Pluralising Political Forests: Unpacking “the State” by Tracing Virunga’s Charcoal Chain. Antipode, 52(4), 996–1017. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12492