Peer-reviewed
* (2024). A Whale of a Blindspot: the “Effectiveness” of Bribes, Threats, and Socialization in the International Whaling Commission
LOBO, Rafaella. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political. OnlineFirst.
[Won Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment’s 2024 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Manuscript] Abstract:
This paper contributes to broader efforts to de-center and historicize IR theory by bringing into question dominant narratives about developing country behavior at the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This literature either neglects, or actively erases any possibility of developing country agency; different blindspots work to the same effect, whereby developing country behavior is assumed rather than investigated, and behavioral change, such as a decision to join the IWC, vote a certain way, or abide by the whaling moratorium, is driven mostly by exogenous factors—threats, bribes, and persuasion. If a developing country choosing a pro-whaling stance is evidence of vote-buying, and an anti-whaling stance is evidence of coercion or socialization, then great power agency is assumed to exist and matter without being demonstrated—and the possibility of agency is denied to most of the world. I use the case of Brazil, the last country to give up whaling in the American continent, to de-center and historicize important whaling-related decisions made from the 1950s–1990s. Brazil voted against the commercial whaling moratorium in 1982 but has since given up whaling and become a leader in whale conservation. The empirical analysis not only finds scant support for the dominant explanations, but it also challenges them on several grounds—and thus underscores the need for theoretical lenses that allow for developing countries’ agencies to be acknowledged. More than contributing to inclusive scholarship, taking alternative perspectives seriously is imperative for more just conservation practice, and more legitimate global governance.
* (2023) How academic podcasting can change academia and its relationship with society: A conversation and guide
Michael Cox, Hannah L. Harrison, Stefan Partelow, Steven Curtis, Stephen R. Elser, Courtney Hammond Wagner, Robert Hobbins, Conor Barnes, Lisa Campbell, Laura Cappelatti, Emily De Sousa, Julie Fowler, Erin Larson, Frans Libertson, Rafaella LOBO, Philip Loring, Marissa Matsler, Andrew Merrie, Eric Moody, Rubi Quiñones, Jason Sauer, Katherine Shabb, Sturle Hauge Simonsen, Susan Washko, Ben Whittaker. Frontiers in Communication 8, 1-9.
Abstract:
In this paper we explore the potential of academic podcasting to effect positive change within academia and between academia and society. Building on the concept of “epistemic living spaces,” we consider how podcasting can change how we evaluate what is legitimate knowledge and methods for knowledge production, who has access to what privileges and power, the nature of our connections within academia and with other partners, and how we experience the constraints and opportunities of space and time. We conclude by offering a guide for others who are looking to develop their own academic podcasting projects and discuss the potential for podcasting to be formalized as a mainstream academic output. To listen to an abridged and annotated version of this paper, visit: https://soundcloud.com/conservechange/podcastinginacademia
* (2021) Recognize fish as food in policy discourse and development funding
Abigail Bennett, Xavier Basurto, John Virdin, Xinyan Lin, Samantha J. Betances, Martin D. Smith, Edward H. Allison, Barbara A. Best, Kelly D. Brownell, Lisa M. Campbell, Christopher D. Golden, Elizabeth Havice, Christina C. Hicks, Peter J. Jacques, Kristin Kleisner, Niels Lindquist, Rafaella LOBO, Grant D. Murray, Michelle Nowlin, Pawan G. Patil, Douglas N. Rader, Stephen E. Roady, Shakuntala H. Thilsted & Sarah Zoubek. Ambio 50, 981–989.
Abstract:
The international development community is off-track from meeting targets for alleviating global malnutrition. Meanwhile, there is growing consensus across scientific disciplines that fish plays a crucial role in food and nutrition security. However, this ‘fish as food’ perspective has yet to translate into policy and development funding priorities. We argue that the traditional framing of fish as a natural resource emphasizes economic development and biodiversity conservation objectives, whereas situating fish within a food systems perspective can lead to innovative policies and investments that promote nutrition-sensitive and socially equitable capture fisheries and aquaculture. This paper highlights four pillars of research needs and policy directions toward this end. Ultimately, recognizing and working to enhance the role of fish in alleviating hunger and malnutrition can provide an additional long-term development incentive, beyond revenue generation and biodiversity conservation, for governments, international development organizations, and society more broadly to invest in the sustainability of capture fisheries and aquaculture.
* (2018) The Shifting Context of Sustainability: Growth and the World Ocean Regime
Jacques, Peter & LOBO, Rafaella. Global Environmental Politics 18(40), 85-106.
Abstract:
To better understand how regimes select norms and how sustainability concepts are used and change, we conduct a quantitative content analysis of important documents specifically related to a critical Earth system, the “World Ocean.” Using the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture reports from 1995 to 2016, we find that economic norms have always been dominant, and the use of sustainability concepts has become increasingly growth oriented. Discourses of restraint, relevant to principles of sustainability, are virtually absent. Growth is the central driving concern for the World Ocean Regime, a noncodified, economistic regime that governs the oceans. We conclude that the norms of sustainability have been selected for fitness with the neoliberal political–economic order and a totalizing ideology of growth, and that sustainability concepts are used as a mask to legitimize extractivist goals that are actually not sustainable.
* (2017). SOFIA’S choices: Discourses, values, and norms of the World Ocean Regime
LOBO, Rafaella & Jacques, Peter. Marine Policy 78, 26-33.
Abstract:
Some scholars have thought the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea would transform marine politics and policy by incorporating social values of equity and justice via the Common Heritage of Mankind and authentic conservation of an essential part of the biosphere, displacing the dominant commodification of the ocean. Likewise, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization has claimed that the “productivity paradigm” of growth in fishery catch has been replaced by balanced norms of sustainability. This article tests these claims by asking “What is the ‘generative grammar’, or value-based blueprints, of governance for the World Ocean?” using a quantitative content analysis of all extant State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) reports (1995–2016). Not only does the analysis disprove the FAO’s assertions, this research reveals an otherwise invisible, non-codified economistic regime governing the World Ocean that is guided by the norms of sheer volume production, named here simply the “World Ocean Regime.” This partially explains why the marine world is experiencing structural ecological changes, including massive biodiversity loss partly driven by overfishing. The analysis finds that overfishing, ecological life support, moral aesthetic values, social equity, and science are very minor concerns for the World Ocean Regime. Governance is the second-most important set of discourses, but this governance is clearly driven by economic values and norms. The World Ocean Regime has critical implications not only for the sustainability of the World Ocean, but the planetary system that depends on the World Ocean.
Gray literature / In the news
Zhu, Weins, and Chen (2022). “Wealthy nations prioritized unrealistic targets over a global biodiversity fund.” China Dialogue. (Reprinted also at Eco-Business).
Duke News (2021). “Policies that Treat ‘Fish as Food’ Could Help Solve World Hunger, Scientists Say”
Environmental Defense Fund (2021). “Scientists call for global policymakers to treat “fish as food” to help solve world hunger.”
ScienceDaily (2021). “Scientists to global policymakers: Treat fish as food to help solve world hunger.”
Ruiz, S. (2020). “Sustainability and Growth in the Oceans.” MARIPOLDATA.
Shutak, Mike (2020). “Duke University Marine Lab students launch podcast.” Carteret County News Time.
LOBO, R. (2020). “Seas the Day Podcast: My bright spot in the pandemic.” Duke University Ocean Policy Working Group: Upwelling, Vol 12, pp 3-4.
Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment (2020). “Marine Lab Students ‘Seas the Day’ with Podcasts”
Skinner, A., LOBO R., Clark, M., Mahajan, S., Glew, L., De Nardo, M., Zunguze, R., Xavier, M., Oliveira, L., and Fisher, B. (2019). Social outcomes of the CARE-WWF Alliance in Mozambique: research findings from a decade of integrated conservation and development programming. Integrated Analysis Report.
WWF Impact Brief (2019). Social Outcomes of the CARE-WWF Alliance in Mozambique: Results and Recommendations from a Decade of Conservation and Development Programming.
LOBO, R. (2019) “The Trump Administration and the International Whaling Commission,” Duke University Ocean Policy Working Group: Upwelling Vol 10, p. 10.
UCF College of Sciences News (2017). “Sickening of the Seas: UCF Team Discovers Destructive Sea Regime”
Wilson Center New Security Beat (2017). “The Invisible World Ocean Regime.”
LOBO, R. (2015).“Political scientists are welcome too,” Sarasota Dolphin Research Program Nicks ‘n’ Notches, p.32.
Revello, S. (2014). “Academics & Globalization: A close-up look at the benefits of international students at Florida universities, from multiculturalism to economic impact.” Florida Forward Magazine.
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