Seeing Like an Oil Company: Space, Security and Global Capital in Neoliberal Africa (Book Review Sample)

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Seeing like an oil company: space, security and global capital in neoliberal Africa
The article seeing like an oil company is an article by James Ferguson where he critically illustrates the limitations of the 1998 article seeing like a state by James Scott. In the article, Ferguson asks questions in regards to how the weaknesses of schemes for planned development by states create leverage in the current world of neoliberal capitalism globally. Ferguson claims that Scott has implied that a dynamic of homogenization, standardization and grid creations is universally applicable in developing states as well as down sized countries and unconstrained global enterprises. Ferguson contests the claim through the application of analysis of recent capital investment behaviors in Africa. How the investments have been destroyed as well as different forms of disorder and order in addition to affected investments. The commonly affected investments being related to natural resources especially oil. The disparity is then visible in the standardization and homogenization of the state. The purpose of this discussion is to analyze the article by Ferguson as well as understand the core message the author is putting across. Besides, we shall consider the strengths and weaknesses of the article in regards to his objection on Scott’s theories in the 1998 article.
James Ferguson has started his article by giving a short description and history of James Scottorder to introduce the audience to the author of the article that he opposes. Not only does Ferguson introduce Scott but he is keen in ensuring that he has credited the renewed author and given him considerable respect as well as acknowledged the impressive quality of his work and the reputation he has as an author. In my opinion, the approach was respectful and professional and thus eliminates any negative perceptions the audience may have when reading Ferguson’s article. The readers of the article will assume that the author is objective since he started the article by acknowledging the author of the article that he intended to oppose thus no misconceptions of Ferguson’s actions.
Ferguson has carried out conclusive research, and it is without a doubt that he was keen in his approach. The information presented in regards to the oil industry and the implications on the economy are not farfetched. To prove his point Ferguson uses statistics of Kuwait and Angola which both produce oil? Angola produces and exports more oil barrels than Kuwait, and the country's government receives approximately 5 billion dollars in revenue from the oil annually. The situation in Angola is quite unfortunate because a significant portion of this money does not get to the population of Angola. Despite Angola being the oil production business for over 25 years the citizens are languishing in extreme poverty and require humanitarian aid. This is an obvious example and indication that Scott’s theory has a discrepancy.
Ferguson's technique of argumentation is through the use of facts rather than just discussions. He has implemented a practical approach that ensures that the audience understands the arguments which are backed by evidence. Thus arousing the minds of the audience into more critical thinking in regards to the data provided. Ferguson has credited many authors and articles that support his claim thus illustrating that his perception is not farfetched.
Despite Ferguson doing an incredible job in the article, there were a couple of flaws that reduced the impact as well as the quality of the paper. The author did not use any graphical information which is critical in illustrating differences. As he compared Kuwait's and Angola's production of oil, he would have gone further and created a graph that compared the amount oil, population size, poverty levels, GDP among others so as to clearly illustrate his point in regards to the dis parities.
In conclusion, I concur with Ferguson’s arguments that indeed there are disparities in the oil producing countries and that there are other underlying factors that affect the impact of the revenue generated from oil production including politics. The Arab world is unique in their approach to the management of oil as a natural resource and also they have developed strategies over the years that encourage the development of the region’s economy and communities through the revenue generated from the sale of oil. (Brynen et al. 15). In 2015 the organization of petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) was alleged to be operating as an oil cartel as their influence causes disparities in revenue earned by different countries. For instance, taxes charged on oil by importing nation affects the prices thus affecting the profit margins. A huge difference is then evident as oil income for different members of OPEC depends on whom there customers are. Thus some countries benefit more than others raising questions in regards to the main purpose of OPEC as a trade union.
The nonpolitical politics of climate change
Eric Swyngedow in his article the nonpolitical politics of climate change takes as to stand against the politics that have hijacked the climatic debate in the recent past. The author's article discusses the different world views and perception of the environment. In his introduction, he speaks of his great disappointment and loss of focus of climate conferences in Copenhagen 2009 and Durban 2015 under the COP15. He talks of how both meetings aimed at discussing climatic change challenges were turned into political agendas. The issues of climate were then disregarded through the bureaucracy of countries, and it was sated that the matter would be dealt with as a matter of state policies. The elites at the conference rather decided to take the opportunity to rally for political and financial allegiances to facilitate capitalist growth.
The author's primary concern is the current trend where climatic issues are being turned into opportunities for political gain. The main agenda of climatic change has been consequently moved aside and only plays like a front to create political platforms. The situation seems to bother the author deeply as Eric is genuinely concerned about the consequences of turning climatic issues into politics.
The article contains four major points where the author argues out his perception as well as the current world view in regards to climatic changes. The author describes ecology as the new "opium" also he states how the environment has become an object of desire. He illustrates how the world as a whole is indeed interested in climatic issues. The enthusiasm and attention that climate change provides have created an avenue for politics.
The environmental issues are no longer being addressed environmentally, but politics has taken a significant part in it. Unions and partnerships are being created between countries to combine efforts in dealing with climatic change issues. The unfortunate truth of these partnerships is that they are political allegiances that are parading themselves as climatic frontiers and advocates.
The change of focus from climatic change to capitalistic growth in deed creates issues since the climatic issues are real and need serious attention. Efforts are being made towards ensu...