Aspects of Eco-Identity in the Recent History of Protests in Romania
Aspects of Eco-Identity in the Recent History of Protests in Romania

Summary/Abstract: Given the ideational debate launched by Michel Foucault by asserting the theory of "biopower" in Surveiller et punir (1975), which showed that "domination" in society is increasingly exercised not through regulations, but through control of the body, this paper brings to the fore the perspective of ecological identity in the wake of events such as ecological protests taking place in the last decade in Romania. Thedevelopment of eco-identity is a novelty in Romania and is little developed at a theoretical level in our country. Nevertheless, the concept of eco-identity is a popular and important topic both nationally and internationally. The historical comparative approach is used in order to apply theories of ecological risk perception to conflict situations such as the protests against the Roşia Montană Gold Corporation or the spontaneous protests against Chevron in Pungeşti. A conclusion of the study is that, in some instances, the foreigner is seen from two perspectives by Romanians. First, as a guide and pioneer in developing eco-tourism and, second, as an exploiter. Although Romanians are sometimes involved in conflict with the imagined foreigner, represented by foreign companies which have attempted to carry out polluting economic activities on the territory of their country, foreigners are also those who have helped develop the country towards a healthier environment through the influence of international environment organizations and have promoted Romania's unique nature-centered traditional style of life abroad.

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