James J. A. Blair

James J. A. Blair is Assistant Professor in Geography and Anthropology at Cal Poly Pomona. He is also Graduate Coordinator at the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. Rooted in cultural, environmental, and historical anthropology, Dr. Blair employs ethnographic and historical methods to advance the interdisciplinary fields of political ecology and science and technology studies (STS). His forthcoming book, under contract with Cornell University Press, is a historical ethnography of sovereignty, natural resources and environmental science in the South Atlantic. Dr. Blair's research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Fulbright-IIE, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the Mellon Foundation/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS). In addition to his research, Blair has professional experience in environmental policy as an International Advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), as well as Land Agency Coordinator for Sierra Club.

Posts by This Author

Negotiating the Crisis: Critical Perspectives on Climate Governance

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Negotiating the Crisis: Critical Perspectives on Climate Governance

This Hot Spots series critically examines the global apparatus of climate change governance, through ethnographic analysis of the United Nations Framework Conve... More

Introduction: Negotiating the Crisis

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Introduction: Negotiating the Crisis

Anthropology has documented the severity of the climate crisis in frontline hot spots around the world, drawing important attention to the need for adaptation a... More

Plurinational Climate Action: Environmental Governance Beyond Green Extractivism

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Plurinational Climate Action: Environmental Governance Beyond Green Extractivism

In December 2019, Chile was scheduled to host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) in San... More