Biodiversity Wars: International Relations and the Fourth World

This is the first part of Chapter 2 of Rudolph Rÿser’s book, Biodiversity Wars: Coexistence or Biocultural Collapse in the 21st Century, which he was writing at the time of his passing. This chapter examines the dynamics of international relations and biodiversity, focusing on how the relationships between indigenous nations and modern states have shaped the sustainability of ecosystems and cultures around the world. Rÿser explores the definitions and distinctions between the cultural heritage of nations and the ethos of states, emphasizing how these differing frameworks impact their interactions and the ongoing struggle for biodiversity and cultural preservation. Drawing a contrast between “corporate states” and “Fourth World Nations,” Rÿser argues that the former can act in overconsumptive and aggressive ways despite the existence of alternative kálhaculture practices, or methods of sustenance that balance the demands of the human and natural worlds. This chapter also introduces the “temporal pause” prompted by the creation of the Westphalian system and the global breakdowns it has incurred as a result of resource exploitation. As a result, it is imperative that states and nations re-evaluate the international system, opening mutual political opportunity among actors.