The Plan Puebla Panama and the discourse of sustainable development: Implications for the role of civil society in shaping development policy.

Abstract

Recently, sustainable development has been presented as a revision to neoliberalism by emphasizing not just economic factors, but also social and environmental concerns. This revision also maintains the value of promoting negotiation with communities that stand to be affected by initiatives. Yet, given criticisms of current policy, what is the role of non-state actors such as NGOs and local communities in shaping development? This question will be addressed by discussing a current integration project in Central America and Mexico called the Plan Puebla Panama (PPP). Although based on sustainable development, the PPP is criticized on social and environmental grounds and for little public information. By applying Long's actor model to political ecology, I argue that although the development promoted by international institutions has fallen short, civil society has shaped current policy. Moreover, I assert participation and negotiation from civil society is essential in encouraging more equitable and sustainable development.