Ecocidal impunity? Wars and the profitability of the chemical corporation in the global south

Jose Atiles, Gustavo Rojas-Páez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article interrogates the impact that the codification of the International Crime of Ecocide may have in addressing and curtailing the environmental harms produced by the chemical industry in Latin America and the Global South. We contend that the International Crime of Ecocide should challenge the historical narratives that have informed international law and its relationship with colonialism. The role that Monsanto/Bayer plays in ecocidal practices such as the development, testing, and use of Agent Orange as war technology is examined, and we demonstrate its connection with current uses of Glyphosate in the war on drugs. At the center of this reflection are the connections between the chemical corporation, state crime, war, and ecocide. This allows us to offer a broader picture of the sociolegal and criminogenic practices that have historically contributed to ecocide and the normalization of corporate impunity in the Global South, specifically after World War II.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalEnvironmental Politics
DOIs
StateE-pub ahead of print - May 12 2025

Keywords

  • Ecocide
  • colonialism
  • glyphosate
  • international criminal law
  • sacrifice zones
  • state-corporate crime

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science

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