J. Montgomery Roper, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

(Last Updated – Fall 2005)

Department of Anthropology 1204 Summer St.

Grinnell College Grinnell, IA 50112

Grinnell, Iowa, 50112 (641) 236-1402

Phone: 641-269-3017

roperjm@grinnell.edu

Education

1999 Ph.D. Cultural Anthropology. University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA. Dissertation: The Political Ecology of Indigenous Self-Development in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory.

1996 Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies. Center for Latin American Studies. University of Pittsburgh.

1994 M.A. Cultural Anthropology, program of applied development. University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY. Thesis: Privately managed agroforestry as a sustainable development alternative for colonists of northwest Ecuador.

1993 Graduate Certificate in Environmental Systems. University of Kentucky.

1991 B.A. Majors in Anthropology and Biology (Cum Laude). Ithaca College. Ithaca, NY.

Academic Positions

2000-present Assistant Professor of Anthropology, and Global Development Studies. Grinnell College. Grinnell, IA. (2002/03, 03/04, 05/06 – Chair of Global Development Studies Concentration)

Anthropology Courses: Introduction to Anthropology; Theories of Culture; Latin American Cultures; Cultural and Political Ecology

Global Development Studies Courses: Introduction to Global Development Studies; Sustainable Development in the Modern World System; Globalization and Development

Freshman Tutorial: Development and Degradation in Tropical Forest

1999-2000 Adjunct Instructor of Anthropology. Appalachian State University. Boone, NC. Courses: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; Gender, Race and Class; and Sustainable Development in the Modern World System.

2000 Instructor of Anthropology. Caldwell Community College, Watauga Campus. Boone, NC. Spring Term. Course: Comparative Cultures.

1998 Instructor of Anthropology. Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, PA. Fall Term. Course: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.

Teaching Fellow. University of Pittsburgh. Six week summer term. Course: Ecological Anthropology.

1993 Instructor. University of Kentucky. Fall term. Course: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology – Faces of Culture Film Series.

1992 Instructor. University of Kentucky. Summer term. Course: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.

1991-93 Graduate Teaching Assistant. University of Kentucky. Courses: Food and Culture, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, and Tribal People.

Research Interests

Geographic: Latin America. Focus on tropical forest regions, particularly the Amazon basin.

Topical: Political economy of natural resource management and degradation (political ecology), ecological and applied anthropology, property systems and reform, indigenous development and modern social movements, sustainable development.

Countries Visited as part of Research and/or Pedagogical Development

Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa

Foreign Language Competence

Spanish: Spoken/Reading: Advanced Proficiency. Written: Moderate Proficiency.

Research Projects

1997-present The Political Ecology of Indigenous Forestry Management and Economic Development in Lowland Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (Beni Department). This project focuses on the interest and efforts of indigenous communities and representative organizations to manage and develop natural resources in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory, since its creation in 1990, and how such indigenous "self-development" has been affected by the broader political economy surrounding those natural resources. Dissertation research focused on the period from 1990-1997 and involved 12 months of fieldwork in 1997. Two months of fieldwork in the late summer of 2004 updated this data and gave particular attention to the effect of changes in laws in the mid 1990s that were only beginning to be implemented in 1997. Two weeks of field work in the summer of 2005 focused on the impacts on the indigenous movement of their recent victory in the local elections.

2001-2003 Indigenous Participation in Commercial Forestry Markets in the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region, Nicaragua. This project examined indigenous participation in commercial forestry and identified the various models of participation, the costs and benefits of such participation, and the variables affecting costs/benefits and obstacles to participation. Data gathering was done through an intensive review of literature, a 2-week rapid rural assessment in Miskito and Mayangna communities, and interviews with key state and NGO officials in Nicaragua. The project was initiated as a consultancy, but will also be integrated into a broader comparative project on indigenous forestry.

1993-94 Deforestation and the Potential of Agroforestry among Colonists in Northwest Ecuador, Province of Pichincha. This research, undertaken for my Master's Thesis, examined the underlying causes of deforestation by colonists in a tropical forest region, and the potential of agroforestry as a sustainable land use alternative. The potential of agroforestry was examined within the context of a proposed World Bank reforestation project (Ecoforest 2000), which intended to have an agroforestry outreach component, and within the broader political-economy of colonization (the project was cancelled). Fieldwork was undertaken from January- May of 1993.

1990 Assessment of Potential Social Impacts of a Biosphere Reserve on a Maya Community in Yucatan, Mexico. This research examined the potential social impacts of a planned ecotourist park and biosphere reserve, and the likely acceptance of government developed economic projects by local Maya Indians in the town of Las Coloradas. Fieldwork was undertaken between June - August as a 5-person research team directed by Dr. Betty Faust.

Consulting Work

2001-03 Nicaragua Indigenous Forestry Models Project. Preparation of policy document concerning the costs/benefits and opportunities/obstacles of different models of indigenous participation in commercial forestry. Case study focuses on Nicaragua’s Northern Atlantic Autonomous region, contextualizing this within the broader literature on indigenous commercial forestry activities (timber and non-timber). Study commissioned by Forest Trends, and done in coordination with the World Bank funded Nicaraguan Forestry Project (PROFOR), and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). Involved overseeing three research teams undertake interviews and hold community meetings in nine communities. Position: Independent Consultant

1997 Bolivia Municipal Forestry Project. Preparation of research methodology and interview guide, and execution of pilot case study concerning the impacts of recent Bolivian legal reforms on the sustainability and equitability of the forestry sector at the level of the municipality. Commissioned by the Bolivian Sustainable Forestry Management Project (BOLFOR), a USAID funded project administered by Chemonics International Inc. Position: Independent Consultant.

1996 Latin America Indigenous Development Project. Literature review of lessons learned from development projects targeting indigenous peoples in Latin America. Involved creating a survey form and data gathering matrix to facilitate gathering comparative data from 42 case studies. The methodology has since been adopted by others seeking to undertake similar comparative research (see Paul E. Little, 1998 Rumo AO PD/I: Análise Comparativa e Prospectiva dos Subprojetos Indígenas do PD/A, report presented to the World Bank). Commissioned by the World Bank's Latin America and the Caribbean Technical Department. Position: Primary Researcher and Author.

1992 Mexico Agrarian Reform Project. Literature review examining tenure systems and land distribution in Mexico, in order to address impacts of the forthcoming agrarian reform. Commissioned by the World Bank. Position: Research Assistant to Dr. Billie R. DeWalt.

Publications

Roper, J. Montgomery 2003 An Assessment of Indigenous Participation in Commercial Forestry Markets: The Case of Nicaragua’s Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region. Washington, DC: Forest Trends. Electronic Document available at WWW.Foresttrends.org.

Roper, J. Montgomery 2003 “Bolivian Legal Reforms and Local Indigenous Organizations: Opportunities and Obstacles in a Lowland Municipality”. Latin American Perspectives 30(1): 5-22. (Available online at: http://lap.sagepub.com/content/vol30/issue1/)

Roper, J. Montgomery, Thomas Perreault, and Patrick Wilson 2003 “Introduction” Latin American Perspectives special issue, New Transformational Movements in Contemporary Latin America, 30(1): 139-161. (Available online at http://lap.sagepub.com/content/vol30/issue1/)

Kaimowitz, D., G. Flores, J. Johnson, P. Pacheco, I. Pavéz, J. Roper, C. Vallejos, and R. Véle 2000 Local government and biodiversity conservation: A case from the Bolivian lowlands. Washington D.C.: Biodiversity Support Program.

Roper, J. Montgomery 1998 "San Ignacio de Moxos: territorios indígenas, madereros y mara". In P. Pacheco and D. Kaimowitz (eds.), Municipios y Gestión Forestal en el Trópico Boliviano. La Paz, Bolivia: published in coordination by CIFOR, CEDLA, and TIERRA. Pp: 83-105.

Roper, J. Montgomery, John Frechione, and Billie R. DeWalt 1997 Indigenous People and Development in Latin America: A Literature Survey and Recommendations. Latin American Monograph & Document Series No. 12. Pittsburgh: Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh. 81p + Appendices.

Paper Presentations

October 2003. The Political Ecology of a Common’s Tragedy in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory. Presented at ACM Workshop on Research and Pedagogy in Political Ecology. Macalester College, Oct 24-25.

March 2003. Indigenous Participation in Forestry Markets in Nicaragua’s Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region. Presented at 2003 Society for Applied Anthropology annual meeting, March 19-23, Portland, Oregon. Session Title: Managing Trees for Sustainable Development: Issues in Community Forestry and Agroforestry.

December 2002. The Political Ecology of a Common’s Tragedy in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory. Macalester College, Environmental Studies Program “Enviro Thursday” series.

November 2001 Contested Forests and Miskito Development in Nicaragua’s Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region. Presented at 2001 American Anthropological Association annual meeting, November 28-December 2, 2001, Washington D.C. Session Title: The Power and Politics of Plants: Critical Approaches to Ethnobotanical Knowledge.

September 2001 Bolivian Legal Reforms and Local Indigenous Organizations: Opportunities and Obstacles in a Lowland Municipality. Manuscript Delivered at the 2001 Meeting of the Latin American Studies Association, Washington DC, September 6-8, 2001. Session Title: Indigenous Movements in the Andes and Mexico: Organization, Identity, and Democracy.

March 2000, Whose Territory is it? Resource Contestation and Organizational Chaos in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory. Presented at LASA 2000 Meetings, March, 2000, Miami, FL. Session Title: "Development or discord: Examining the changing roles of indigenous organizations in Ecuador and Bolivia."

(with Patrick Wilson) March 1999 Undertaking Research with Indigenous Peoples in Lowland Bolivia and Ecuador. Colloquium presentation in Department of Anthropology, March 31. University of Pittsburgh.

December 1998 Reconsidering Collective Territories for Indigenous Populations. Presented at the 1998 American Anthropological Association annual meeting, December, 1998, Philadelphia, PA. Session Title: Indigenous Perspectives and Sustainability.

(With John Frechione and Billie R. DeWalt) 1996 Indigenous People and Development in Latin America: A Literature Survey and Recommendations. Summary of research and findings given in September at an open presentation at the World Bank hosted by the Latin America and Caribbean Region Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Sector Management Unit.

1996 Addressing economically and environmentally unsustainable land use practices in northwest Ecuador: agroforestry development. Presented at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Student Conference on Latin American Social and Public Policy.

April 1994 Addressing economic and environmental problems in northwest Ecuador with lumber company supported agroforestry. Paper presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology meetings, April 1994, Cancun, Mexico. Session Title: Latin American Forests: Policies and People.

Panels and Guest Lectures

June 2, 2005 Invited panelist for Grinnell College Alumni College panel on Southern Africa.

April 12 2005 Invited panelist, Grinnell College Environmental Action Group Student/Faculty Panel Discussion, "Perspectives on Global Environmentalism"

February 10, 2005 Invited panelist for “Perspectives on the Future of South Africa”. Part of the Rosenfield Symposium Beyond Colonialism and Apartheid: Facing the Future in Southern Africa.

October 24 & 25 2003. ACM Workshop on Research and Pedagogy in Political Ecology. Macalester College.

· Panel Moderator and Discussant, Roundtable on Teaching Strategies & Materials in Political Ecology/Environmental Studies.

· Panel Discussant, Roundtable on the State of Political Ecology in Different Disciplines.

· Panel Discussant, Roundtable on Involving Students in Research.

September 20 2003 Invited presentation: “Globalization and Development in Latin America (and what’s it to us, anyway).” Grinnell Chicago Alumni College, Union League Club of Chicago.

August 12, 2003. Invited presentation: “Providing a Global Education and a Global Environment at Grinnell College.” Edgewood College Faculty Workshop on Globalizing the Campus. Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin.

April 24, 2003. Invited panelist, Latin America’s Economic Crisis, Grinnell College. Organized by the Grinnell College International Student Organization.

December 5, 2002. Invited guest lecture, on Logging, indigenous peoples and economic development in lowland Bolivia. Macalester College. Bill Moseley’s class Geography 88-01, “Comparative Environment and Development Studies: The Cultural and Political Ecology of Marginal Environments”

September 18, 2002. Invited panelist on Globalization Issues. Hosted by Students Against Sweatshops. Grinnell College.

Nov 3, 2001. Invited Lecture, Current Issues in Global Development Studies. Presented at the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Reunion, Grinnell College.

April 2001. Invited panelist, Brain Gain, Brain Drain Seminar. Organized by Grinnell College students.

March 18-21, 2001. Guest Lectures. Visited the Duke/Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) study abroad program in Costa Rica on invitation from the program. Led the class on a research visit to a local rice farming community. Provided three guest lectures:

· The Impact of Structural Adjustment in Latin America

· Grassroots Development and Participatory Planning

· Indigenous Peoples and Forestry Development Along Nicaragua’s Miskito Coast

December 2000. Indigenous Development in Latin America: A Report to the World Bank. Invited presentation at Grinnell College.

Manuscript and Book Reviews

July 2005. Manuscript review for journal, Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies.

August 2003. Reviewed two chapters of a book being edited by John Van Willigen and Satish Kedia entitled Applied Anthropology: Domains of Application, on request of the editors.

July 2003. Reviewed 5th edition of Roger Lewin’s Human Evolution: An Illustrated Introduction, on request of the publisher, Blackwell Science.

April-May, 2003. Reviewed three new chapters of book, Visions of Culture: An Introduction to Anthropological Theories and Theorists, by Jerry D. Moore, on request of publisher, Altamira Press.

Sept-October, 2002. Manuscript review for journal, Agriculture and Human Values.

MEMBERSHIPS

American Anthropological Association

Society for Latin American Anthropology

Society for Applied Anthropology

Latin American Studies Association

Cultural Survival