Anthropogenic Disparity in Mobility: Activism and Resistance in Select Climate Fiction
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Avinashilingam
Abstract
The thesis investigates the diverse forms of injustices in the experiences of climate refugees: human and more than human in select climate fiction. The select climate fictions actively engage with the anthropogenic crisis by analysing the complexities of climate disasters from the political, social, ecological and ethical dimensions. Drawing upon a range of primary sources and theoretical texts that are grounded on the perspectives of climate justice, the research seeks to address the inequities, challenges and the need to establish multispecies inclusive climate justice for climate refugees. The research also examines the various forms of activism and resistance put forth by the human and more than human characters to adopt, cope and seek justice for the climate refugees. The “Introduction” chapter explores the trajectory of climate fiction and its plots by putting forth the concepts of climate criticism adopted. It also explores the purpose of research, objectives, review of literature, research strategy, and the structure of the thesis.The second chapter titled “Climate Justice in the Anthropocene: A Theoretical Framework” elucidates the theoretical framework chosen for the research to substantiate the research objectives on climate justice for climate refugees. The third chapter titled “Environmental Justice Activism: Disparity in Displacement amidst Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change in Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island” examines the kinds of resistance expressed by the characters of the Global South to address inequities due to geographical, economic and political disparities. The fourth chapter titled “Community Based Activism for Conservation and Sustenance in Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behaviour” explicates the role of community engagement in promoting conservation and ensuring rehabilitation of the monarch butterflies as victims of climate change altered migration trajectory. The fifth chapter titled “Countering Eco Fascism: Subversion and i Survival in John Lanchester’s The Wall” analyses the politics of the totalitarian regime and its imposition of eco fascist policies which is subverted through the characters’ resistance.The sixth chapter titled “Resisting Technocapitalism: Security and Rights of Migrants in Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife” scrutinises the acts of resistance exhibited by climate migrants through border defying mechanisms in a society altered by techno capitalism to counter the impact of climate induced resource conflict. The final chapter titled “Conclusion” culminates with an extension of the findings of the research, the theoretical observations of the thesis and the scope for further study. The chapter provides a brief account of the justification of the research objectives formulated and the research findings that are documented.
Description
Keywords
English