Ecuador’s Environmental Revolutions began with an analysis of the origins of the Ecuadorian based environmental movement. At this point in time, the state was weak and transnational funding had only a small influence. The neoliberal boom was the next time period when the environmental movement in Ecuador was already established and with a still weak state, transnational funders grew in power. Ecoimperialists and ecodependents became powerful, filling the void left by the state. After the neoliberal boom was the neoliberal bust. This era was identified by a steep decline in transnational funding and therefore the power of ecoimperialists and ecodependents. During this time period, ecoresisters became powerful and effective at creating change. Ecoentrperneurs also emerged. Following the neoliberal bust is the final stage (and current stage) described in the book, the citizen's revolution. During the citizen's revolution transnational funders played a small role by funding the state directly and ecoresisters protested the extractive policies being implemented.
In each era of Ecuador, transnational funders are an influential presence in some way. Lewis suggests the following hypotheses about transnational funders: “the dominant goals of the environmental movement will vary with transnational funding; when transnational funding is high, the goals of ecoimperialists will dominate, and when transnational funding is low, the goals of ecoresisters will dominate”. After reading Ecuador’s Environmental Revolutions, this hypothesis stands out as one of the most important. Ecoimperialsists and ecoresisters not only have completely different implementation styles but also support vastly different agendas. These two types of groups impact Ecuador’s environment in different ways and influence the people differently also. Ecoimperialsists push international agendas and the NGOs that carry out their projects focus heavily on issues that pertain directly to environmental conservation. Ecoresisters, since they rely much less on foreign funding from international organizations, are able to focus on more national and localized goals. Most importantly, ecoresisters promote an environmental movement. These groups/individuals place more focus on human-related environmental issues connecting them to communities. When transnational funding declined in Ecuador, ecoresisters were able to start large grassroots movements that have the potential to result in long term social change.
Another hypothesis from Chapter 8 which I selected is: “ Transnational funders (movement imperialists) create tensions and competition among national groups (dependents) that otherwise might form a more coherent and successful movement”. I selected these two hypotheses not only because of their clear connection but because of their importance. After reading the book my overall opinion is that these two hypotheses need to be addressed together in order for Ecuador to achieve Buen Vivir. Ecodependents may be successful at conservation but this is not enough. If these groups did not have to compete against one another for funds, they could take collective action and spark a movement for sustainable development which Ecuador desperately needs. However, ecoresisters would still be necessary, even if ecodependents could collaborate, because ecoresisters are able to encourage the movement at a local level which is essential to achieving lasting change. A combination of collective action from ecodependents and ecoresisters would be the best way to ensure Ecuador and its TOP start to really become invested in sustainable development.