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Accepted Paper:
Transforming knowledge infrastructure: the case of air pollution in Chiang Mai
Pongtip Thiengburanathum
(Chiang Mai University)
Pakamas Thinphanga
(Thailand Environment Institute)
Khanin Hutanuwatr
(King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang)
Poon Thiengburanathum
(Chiang Mai University)
Richard Friend
(University of York)
Paper short abstract:
The change in knowledge infrastructure in an urban setting can increase the political capability of civil society groups to negotiate with the government. The paper analysed the case of Chiang Mai's air pollution and how its political capability was mobilised.
Paper long abstract:
Transformation of knowledge infrastructures in the right place can increase the political capabilities of civil society to reduce conflict, increase cooperation and open space for political negotiation.
The case of conflict over air pollution in Chiang Mai provides useful insight into how civil society can mobilise, ultimately lobbying effectively for the state to implement effective air quality monitoring. Air pollution has been a long-standing source of conflict in the north of Thailand, but the state had failed to monitor PM2.5 levels in Chiang Mai, while drawing on narratives of blame that focused on upland agriculture. Local actors organised themselves as a Breath Council to lobby for clean air in the city to address this governance failure. The paper draws on concepts of knowledge infrastructures and political capabilities to explore how these civil society actors - academics and activists -operated to generate credible monitoring evidence applying disruptive technologies, developing arguments and building broad coalitions of lay and expert knowledge. However, despite early successes, there are concerns that changes in the leadership of local government present additional threats. The paper concludes by considering the extent to which past experience in mobilising around air pollution can be sustained.
Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
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Accepted Paper:
Paper short abstract:
Paper long abstract:
Transformation of knowledge infrastructures in the right place can increase the political capabilities of civil society to reduce conflict, increase cooperation and open space for political negotiation.
The case of conflict over air pollution in Chiang Mai provides useful insight into how civil society can mobilise, ultimately lobbying effectively for the state to implement effective air quality monitoring. Air pollution has been a long-standing source of conflict in the north of Thailand, but the state had failed to monitor PM2.5 levels in Chiang Mai, while drawing on narratives of blame that focused on upland agriculture. Local actors organised themselves as a Breath Council to lobby for clean air in the city to address this governance failure. The paper draws on concepts of knowledge infrastructures and political capabilities to explore how these civil society actors - academics and activists -operated to generate credible monitoring evidence applying disruptive technologies, developing arguments and building broad coalitions of lay and expert knowledge. However, despite early successes, there are concerns that changes in the leadership of local government present additional threats. The paper concludes by considering the extent to which past experience in mobilising around air pollution can be sustained.
Cities, Urbanisation, and the Politics of Urban Infrastructure Systems
Session 1 Wednesday 6 July, 2022, -