Works in Progress: Indigenous Knowledge, Biological Diversity and Intellectual Property in a Neoliberal ERA

in R.W. Perry and B. Maurer, eds., Globalization Under Construction: Governmentality, Law and Identity (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press) pp. 273-314

34 Pages Posted: 9 Jul 2014

See all articles by Rosemary J. Coombe

Rosemary J. Coombe

York University - Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; York University

Date Written: 2003

Abstract

In a rapidly changing era of globalization, ‘cultural rights’ have been garnered new attention in international law and policy making circles. Information becomes capital through processes of commodification, facilitated by intellectual property laws. Resistances engage in similar tactics but strategically point them in alternative directions. Indigenous peoples have put intellectual property ‘back’ in the human rights framework after its initial appropriation to the international trade domain. They have done so by utilizing the ambiguities associated with ‘culture’ found in international covenants, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). While anthropologists might feel unease or discomfort in the increasing institutional use of the idea of culture, they must also begin to recognize its power to express injustice. The ultimate value in culture then, may be its versatile ability to serve as a work in progress – to give new meaning and new voice to injustice.

Keywords: Cultural rights, International law, Convention on Biological Diversity, Neoliberalism

Suggested Citation

Coombe, Rosemary J., Works in Progress: Indigenous Knowledge, Biological Diversity and Intellectual Property in a Neoliberal ERA (2003). in R.W. Perry and B. Maurer, eds., Globalization Under Construction: Governmentality, Law and Identity (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press) pp. 273-314, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2463776

Rosemary J. Coombe (Contact Author)

York University - Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies ( email )

Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada

York University ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://www.yorku.ca/rcoombe/publications.htm

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
81
Abstract Views
759
Rank
547,434
PlumX Metrics