The modalities of power driving climate-related resettlement : Evidence from the Philippines: Evidence from the Philippines

Justin SEE; Ginbert Permejo CUATON; Brooke WILMSEN; Pearly Joy PEJA

doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104338

The modalities of power driving climate-related resettlement : Evidence from the Philippines: Evidence from the Philippines

Justin SEE^*, Ginbert Permejo CUATON, Brooke WILMSEN, Pearly Joy PEJA

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Sociology and Social Policy

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

Climate resettlement is an exercise in power that has various intended and unintended effects. Drawing upon a case study in the Philippines, we theorise how power is enacted and uncovered the range of actors and strategies employed in relocating communities affected by climate change. Inspired by the work of John Allen, we challenge the emphasis on coercion and domination for understanding the role of power in climate resettlement. Through interviews, focus group discussions, and review of planning documents, we explore the “quieter” and less obvious registers of power, namely persuasion, manipulation, and seduction. We discuss the strategies employed by different stakeholders in negotiating and preserving their rights and access to land and resources. We find that Allen’s taxonomy offers a valuable heuristic device to capture the nuances of power and advance an understanding of how power – in all its forms – is central to the conceptualisation of climate resettlement.

Original language	English
Article number	104338
Journal	Geoforum
Volume	164
Early online date	8 Jun 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104338
Publication status	Published - Aug 2025

Bibliographical note

The authors would like to thank our institutional project collaborator, Eastern Visayas State University, for its support throughout the research project. We are also grateful to the residents of DREAMVillle Resettlement Site in Tacloban City for their participation in this study. Lastly, we would like to thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions helped improve this paper.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s)

Funding

This work was supported by the Philippines-Australia Forum at La Trobe University.

Keywords

Climate resettlement
Planned relocation
Climate change
Climate adaptation
Power
Philippines

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104338

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0016718525001381

Cite this

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title = "The modalities of power driving climate-related resettlement : Evidence from the Philippines: Evidence from the Philippines",

abstract = "Climate resettlement is an exercise in power that has various intended and unintended effects. Drawing upon a case study in the Philippines, we theorise how power is enacted and uncovered the range of actors and strategies employed in relocating communities affected by climate change. Inspired by the work of John Allen, we challenge the emphasis on coercion and domination for understanding the role of power in climate resettlement. Through interviews, focus group discussions, and review of planning documents, we explore the “quieter” and less obvious registers of power, namely persuasion, manipulation, and seduction. We discuss the strategies employed by different stakeholders in negotiating and preserving their rights and access to land and resources. We find that Allen{\textquoteright}s taxonomy offers a valuable heuristic device to capture the nuances of power and advance an understanding of how power – in all its forms – is central to the conceptualisation of climate resettlement.",

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note = "The authors would like to thank our institutional project collaborator, Eastern Visayas State University, for its support throughout the research project. We are also grateful to the residents of DREAMVillle Resettlement Site in Tacloban City for their participation in this study. Lastly, we would like to thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions helped improve this paper. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s)",

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N2 - Climate resettlement is an exercise in power that has various intended and unintended effects. Drawing upon a case study in the Philippines, we theorise how power is enacted and uncovered the range of actors and strategies employed in relocating communities affected by climate change. Inspired by the work of John Allen, we challenge the emphasis on coercion and domination for understanding the role of power in climate resettlement. Through interviews, focus group discussions, and review of planning documents, we explore the “quieter” and less obvious registers of power, namely persuasion, manipulation, and seduction. We discuss the strategies employed by different stakeholders in negotiating and preserving their rights and access to land and resources. We find that Allen’s taxonomy offers a valuable heuristic device to capture the nuances of power and advance an understanding of how power – in all its forms – is central to the conceptualisation of climate resettlement.

AB - Climate resettlement is an exercise in power that has various intended and unintended effects. Drawing upon a case study in the Philippines, we theorise how power is enacted and uncovered the range of actors and strategies employed in relocating communities affected by climate change. Inspired by the work of John Allen, we challenge the emphasis on coercion and domination for understanding the role of power in climate resettlement. Through interviews, focus group discussions, and review of planning documents, we explore the “quieter” and less obvious registers of power, namely persuasion, manipulation, and seduction. We discuss the strategies employed by different stakeholders in negotiating and preserving their rights and access to land and resources. We find that Allen’s taxonomy offers a valuable heuristic device to capture the nuances of power and advance an understanding of how power – in all its forms – is central to the conceptualisation of climate resettlement.

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DO - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104338

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The modalities of power driving climate-related resettlement : Evidence from the Philippines: Evidence from the Philippines

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this