Send message to Author

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between environmental change, floods, and economic inequality in the mountainous region of Chitral, Pakistan, within the broader context of Central Eurasia. Using a political ecology framework, the study explores how environmental risks and social structures interact to shape vulnerability and disaster response in remote mountain communities. The research is based on fifteen semi structured interviews with NGO professionals working in disaster management and community development in Chitral, Pakistan.

The findings show that floods significantly affect livelihoods, infrastructure, and social stability, particularly among economically vulnerable households. Climate change, glacial melting, and extreme weather patterns are increasing environmental risks, while local communities rely on both traditional ecological knowledge and institutional support to cope with disasters. Observations of animal behavior, water changes, and community-based early warning practices illustrate the role of local environmental ideologies in shaping responses to environmental threats.

The paper argues that integrating local knowledge with institutional disaster management strategies is essential for building resilient and equitable environmental governance in Central Eurasian mountain regions

Send message to Authors

Abstract

Environmentalism and nationalism have long been seen as incompatible and antagonistic. Many studies have found the positive association between environmental concern and global or cosmopolitan identity. Indicatively, in the famous motto “Think globally, act locally” the national level of attachment is absent. Moreover, in a seminal work on contemporary environmental movements in Eastern Europe, Jane Dawson (1996) have found them to be a mere transitionary “surrogates” for national movements. In recent years, quantitative and qualitative studies have started to problematize the previously accepted belief in incompatibility of environmentalism and nationalism and found national identity as instrumental in promoting environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior. Instead of giving an ultimate answer to the question whether strong national feeling obstructs pro-environmental behavior, our qualitative study is based on over 40 semi-structured interviews and looks into how nationalism and environmentalism are connected to each other in the heads of those already committed to the environmental cause – eco-activists in Russia’s regions: Moscow, one oblast (Tyumen), and one ethnic republic (Ufa). Our informants elaborate on counterintuitive but locally meaningful links between nationalism to pro-environmental behavior. They find commonalities between two social actions by referring to “altruism,” “empathy,” “indivisibility of motherland” including “natural heritage”, “collective values,” “duties to social and natural environment” and “moral obligations and responsibility.” Positive sentiments towards Russia, that is Russian (territorial) nationalism, function as the most prominent form of place attachment along with local (urban) sense of place. Notably, regional (republican) sense of place is important in Bashkortostan for ethically Bashkir, Tatar, and Russian environmentalists alike but not elsewhere. Global attachment does not feature much in the narratives of Russian environmentalists anymore. Thus, the recent out-migration of prominent activists, demographic shift in Russian environmentalist community, and growing governmental support for GONGOs have all contributed to the emergence of “environmental patriotism” as a prominent ecological discourse in diverse Russian regions.

Send message to Authors

Abstract

Energy transitions are shaped not only by a country's economic and energy environments but also by persistent narratives about possibility, affordability, and political feasibility. Across contexts, persistent energy myths shape how societies imagine, contest, and implement change. This paper develops a conceptual framework for understanding energy myths as forms of discursive governance that shape energy transition pathways in resource-dependent states. Drawing on insights from political economy, energy justice, and policy process theory, we define energy myths as persistent claims that structure decision-making despite incomplete or contested evidence. We then organise these myths into a systematic typology spanning technical, economic, infrastructural, social, technological, and environmental domains. Using evidence from discourse analysis, elite interviews, and government speeches, we identify recurring narratives that constrain action in Kazakhstan, including the beliefs that fossil fuels are indispensable, that renewables are inherently unaffordable, and that technological solutions alone can deliver decarbonisation.

By situating Kazakhstan within broader theoretical debates on energy justice and political economy, the paper argues that myths function as forms of discursive governance. They legitimise existing power structures, shape investment priorities, and limit the agency of local actors. These dynamics help explain why transition policies in resource-dependent states often remain centralised, incremental, and unevenly distributed. The findings suggest that energy myths function as mechanisms of delay and path dependency, legitimising incrementalism while masking deeper political and institutional constraints. By systematically examining how these narratives shape energy governance, the study contributes to broader debates on the political economy of decarbonization and highlights the importance of addressing discursive barriers alongside technological and financial challenges in energy transitions.