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Exploring risk, resistance and the power of myths among coastal fishing communities in Kerala, India

This paper attempts to capture the socially constructed nature of risk by analyzing the discourses embedded in community beliefs, myths and experiential narratives regarding coastal hazards and fishworkers’ livelihoods. This paper draws insights from the works of James Scott on power and resistance...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sunil D. Santha, Gahana P. and Aswin V. S.
Format: Printed Book
Published: Natural Resources Forum 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://10.26.1.76/ks/004811.pdf
Description
Summary:This paper attempts to capture the socially constructed nature of risk by analyzing the discourses embedded in community beliefs, myths and experiential narratives regarding coastal hazards and fishworkers’ livelihoods. This paper draws insights from the works of James Scott on power and resistance in the everyday life of marginalized populations. Qualitative data for the study was collected using semi-structured interview schedules, in-depth group interviews, oral histories and storytelling across twenty marine fishing villages in Kerala. A significant finding of the study is that the communal discourse of coastal hazards or kolu is an integral part of fishworkers’ resistance against formal authority and scientific knowledge systems in coastal management. The myths and beliefs of fishworkers are expressions of their concerns about present forms of development and coastal resource management.
Physical Description:p.118–128 38 (2014)