ELEMENTAL POLITICS BETWEEN MINORITARIANISM AND LIVE DEMOCRACY – A Case Study of the Soča River Basin

Abstract

Abstract. Human interaction combined with natural elements makes water, air, earth/soil and fire inherently political. Access to the elements and the way they are treated cause fundamental injustices and inequalities between living beings, yet at the same time the elements are recognised for their importance for the well-being and prosperity of human societies and ecosystems. After reviewing relevant analogical literature, the author theorises elemental politics, elemental democracy, elemental justice, and elemental citizenship. Based on a case study of past and recent elemental politics pertaining to the Soča River basin and the natureculture of the Nature Worshippers of Primorska, the author argues there is a need for a thorough reconsideration of natural elements, especially of their holism, in view of the elemental legal and political subjectivity. The latter might be achieved with the use of a modified elemental vocabulary and collective imaginary inspired by both naturecultures’ ontologies and recent theories on glocalism. Keywords: Elemental Politics, Elemental Justice, Soča River Basin, Nature Worship.