Place-based leadership and environmental conflicts in the European Union

This paper investigates the relationship between place-based leadership and environmental conflicts. Focusing on France, we examine the development and distribution of environmental conflicts, and compare them with what happens in the European Union. We then select three case studies to analyse the behaviour of different actors or groups involved, examining actions and initiatives that can ignite or help defuse environmental conflicts across local communities. Findings unveil the key role of local scientists in environmental conflicts, and the emergence of non-assigned leaders who utilise interpretive power to influence decision-making processes related to large infrastructural projects approved at local and national levels.