Formerly at Lancaster University
Political Ecology: The interfaces between Environmental Management, Human Ecology and Environmental Policy making.
I have researched into the history of ethnosciences as the basis for developing actor-oriented, interpretative approaches. By attempting to construct the history of livelihood strategies (in Northwest Amazonia, Yucatan Peninsula, Ukrainian émigrés in Bradford-UK and of the Mapuche-Pehuenche of Chile) I have been forced to compare the development of `communities´ during different periods of time. Diachronical analysis looked at developmental conditions through time periods defined by the structural (political - economical) and environmental changes. Long-term comparability has been enabled through the combination methods from ethnohistory (including the analysis of archives, audiovisual material, plastic arts and literature), ethnography (including participatory actions research during fieldwork and ICT monitoring throughout the projects´ life), and comparative political and ecological analysis.
Until 2005 Oscar worked for the Department of Geography at King´s College London in a project linked to the Cultures of Consumption Programme (ESRC / AHRB). He investigated the history of the production and consumption of chewing gum looking at interfaces between identity, cultural change and political economy. From February 2006 and September 2007 Oscar worked for the School of Health and related research in University of Sheffield on the project 'socio-cultural transmission of food values' linked to the Changes Families Changing Food Programme (Leverhulme). His ethnographic work informed the research into the foodways of the Ukrainian diasporic community in Bradford, England. Oscar was also consultant tutor and supervisor in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development at Imperial College London from 2000 to 2007.
Oscar is currently working as Consultant for the Centre for Development Policy and Research at SOAS-University of London and is a senior researcher of the ESRC’s Centre for economic and social aspects of Genomics -Cesagen, at Lancaster University. His latest investigations relate to techno-scientific developments aiming at addressing global food insecurities. His research brings together two sub-themes and issues of concern (a)How do new digital technologies and GIS transform the research and development practices, particularly in relation to management of natural resources; (b) beyond economic policy (deterrents and incentives) what policy interventions are adequate and necessary for the food systems become compatible with the sustainability agenda, particularly achieving biodiversity conservation targets and the curtail of green house gasses to the limits required to stabilise the global climate.
(2011) Forero O.A. ‘Digital technology uses for sustainable management of natural resources in multicultural contexts’ Development in Practise, Vol. 21, N6, pp 822-833
(2010) Forero O.A. and Graham Smith ‘The reproduction of ‘cultural taste’ amongst the Ukrainian Diaspora in Bradford, England’, Sociological Review, Volume 68 December 2010, Pages: 78–96, Article first published online: 16 JUN 2011
(2009 ) Forero O.A. et .al. ‘Institutional Dining Rooms: Food Ideologies and the Making of the Person’ in Changing Families Changing Food, P. Jackson (ed.) Palgrave.
(2007) Forero O.A. and Michael Redclift ‘The production and marketing of sustainable forest products: chewing gum in Mexico’ Development in Practice, Vo.17, N2, pp 196-207
(2006) Forero O.A. and Michael Redclift ‘The role of the Mexican State in the Development of Chicle Extraction in Yucatán and the continuance importance of Coyotaje’ Journal of Latin American Studies ( CUP Cambridge) No 36, pp 65-93.
(2005) Forero O.A. and Michael Redclift ‘El papel del Estado Mexicano en el desarrollo de la explotación del Chicle en Yucatán’. Revista Mexicana del Caribe, (Año X), No 19, pp. 120-158
(2004) Forero O.A. ‘Ak-K'ajlay. El Chicle, Verdadero Final de la Guerrra de Castas’, Nikte T’aan, Palabra en Flor, Academy of the Mayan Culture and Language (Quintana Roo - Mexico), Vl.3, No.2, February.
(2002) Forero O.A. and G. Woodgate ‘The semantics of ‘Human Security’ in Northwest Amazonia: between indigenous peoples’ ‘Management of the World’ and the USA’s State Security Policy for Latin America’, in Human Security and the Environment. M. Redclift. Cheltenham - UK and Northampton - USA, Edward Elgar.
(2002) Forero O.A. ‘Technology in Northwest Amazonia: Sketches from Inside’ in Scientific papers COLFUTURO, Bogotá, Biblioteca Virtual Luis Angel Arango. http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/tesis/sketches_from_inside.pdf
(2002) Forero O.A. ‘Technology in Northwest Amazonia, Views of Views: Sustainability, Environmental Management and Territorial Ordering’, in Scientific papers COLFUTURO, Bogotá, Biblioteca Virtual Luis Angel Arango. http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/tesis/survey_results.pdf
(2001) Forero O.A. ‘The March of the Manikins: Agroforestry practices and spiritual dancing in Northwest Amazonia’ in Conference Proceedings, Conservation and Sustainable Development: Comparative Perspectives, Center for Comparative Research, University of Yale, New Haven.
