Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tourism Planning & Development
Abstract
Starting from an Actor-network Theory (ANT) inspired relational
perspective on object formation and material agency, this article
analyses the controversies about plans to pave the Ruhija road
through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda). Based on
interviews, ethnographic observations, and analysis of relevant
documents, we examine the multiple ways in which the Ruhija
road is enacted and objectified in conservation, tourism, and
planning practices. We further show how these different
objectifications of the Ruhija road not only led to enduring
conflicts but also contributed to postponing the plans to pave the
road. We argue that improving traction of the road pacified the
conflicts. The partial solidification of the muddiest parts of the
road unintentionally matched with the different “road realities” of
the actors involved. Our analysis shows how the vibrancy of
materiality is always relational, and can only be understood by
taking into account the context of their objectification
Description
Keywords
Material agency, planning and policy, Ruhija road, Bwindi, material pacification