Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved

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...

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Main Authors: Christine, Ampumuza, Martijn, Duineveld, René, van der Duim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tourism Planning & Development 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1015
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author Christine, Ampumuza
Martijn, Duineveld
René, van der Duim
author_facet Christine, Ampumuza
Martijn, Duineveld
René, van der Duim
author_sort Christine, Ampumuza
collection KAB-DR
description 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
format Article
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language English
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publisher Tourism Planning & Development
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spelling oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-10152024-01-17T04:47:51Z Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved Christine, Ampumuza Martijn, Duineveld René, van der Duim Material agency planning and policy Ruhija road Bwindi material pacification 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 Kabale University 2023-02-22T06:10:00Z 2023-02-22T06:10:00Z 2021 Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1015 en Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ application/pdf Tourism Planning & Development
spellingShingle Material agency
planning and policy
Ruhija road
Bwindi
material pacification
Christine, Ampumuza
Martijn, Duineveld
René, van der Duim
Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
title Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
title_full Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
title_fullStr Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
title_full_unstemmed Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
title_short Material Pacification: How a Conflict Over Paving Uganda’s Tourism Road Got Accidentally Resolved
title_sort material pacification how a conflict over paving uganda s tourism road got accidentally resolved
topic Material agency
planning and policy
Ruhija road
Bwindi
material pacification
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1015
work_keys_str_mv AT christineampumuza materialpacificationhowaconflictoverpavingugandastourismroadgotaccidentallyresolved
AT martijnduineveld materialpacificationhowaconflictoverpavingugandastourismroadgotaccidentallyresolved
AT renevanderduim materialpacificationhowaconflictoverpavingugandastourismroadgotaccidentallyresolved