Forum Theatre as a mechanism to explore representation of local people's values in environmental governance: A case of study from Chiapas, Mexico

[摘要] 1. Nature degradation, poverty and social discrimination are some of the consequences of unfair decision-making over environmental resources within ruralcommunities in the Global South. Barriers to achieving fair environmental decisions are entrenched power differences and the lack of representation of thediversity of local values in environmental decision-making.2. Using intersectionality and value pluralism as a conceptual base, this is the firstpaper to examine the potential of Forum Theatre, a performance arts-basedmethod, to discuss ‘solutions’ regarding power differences and values towardsnature in environmental decision-making.3. We implemented Forum Theatre in two rural villages in Chiapas, Mexico, framedaround conflicts and power differences in eco-tourism development.4. Participants felt empathy with the Forum Theatre characters and dissatisfactionover the conflicts, and this motivated them to engage and participate in collective reflections on their own personal experiences with power differences inenvironmental decision-making.5. From these reflections, participants performed diverse ‘solutions’ to the conflicts, bringing to the fore plural interconnected and dynamic values towardsnature in these narratives. Despite this, Forum Theatre does not look to ‘solve’conflicts; it is a safe space to explore how power differences and values towardsnature play out in environmental decision-making.6. Results offer a promising picture of the potential of Forum Theatre as an opening where participants could discuss power differences and values towardsnature. However, establishing its potential as a tool in environmental decisionmaking would require engaging those involved in implementing environmentaldecisions that affect the communities but who operate from other levels of thegovernance structure, such as policy-makers and large NGOs.

[学科分类] 护理学

[关键词] environmental decision-making;intersectionality;participatory methods;performance arts-based methods;power differences;value pluralism