Does the subaltern count? Data inadequacy as epistemic violence
Introduction
Data is essential to the pursuit of climate justice. For starters, we discovered man-made climate change through data depicting how the average global temperature increased exponentially with the advent of the industrial revolution. Further, we generally look for solutions which cut the most greenhouse gas emissions for the least monetary and social costs. While it is not the only variable, it bridges the gap between varying cultures, economies, histories, and interests.
However, we do not always have the data we need. This problem of data inadequacy–be it a lack in either quality or quantity–stalls progress in our pursuit of equitable and inclusive sustainability. In particular, through underrepresenting minority groups, inadequate data becomes a sort of epistemic violence incompatible with climate justice.
Expanding epistemic violence
The Burning of the Library at Alexandria in 391 AD (circa 1910) by Ambrose Dudley
Coined by Spivak in the seminal essay ‘Can the Subaltern Speak?’, epistemic violence refers to the marginalization of individuals and groups from the production and dissemination of knowledge. Through the destruction of their knowledge and methods, certain people are silenced and withheld the opportunities to participate in society. This usually arises from pernicious ignorance, which is reasonably expected yet harmful in certain contexts. One such example would be the underrepresentation of indigenous peoples in climate mitigation, which excludes them from the production of new, practical knowledge (climate mitigation strategies), while ignoring their existing and relevant knowledge (sustainable indigenous practices).
Professor of Psychology Thomas Teo expanded this notion to the interpretations of data in the empirical Social Sciences. He called on researchers to be “aware of the possible limitations of their own interpretations,” especially when “interpreting differences between ‘us’ and the Other.” Unfortunately, there has been no such study on the side of data. As a collection of facts, data is seemingly objective. However, Information Scientist Melanie Feinberg reminds us that “data is created, not found.” It is gathered through human instruments to serve human interests. As such, data is bound to the same possible limitations Teo pointed out.
In the context of climate change and action, data inadequacy could result in epistemic violence. First, it would certainly harm those excluded from the considerations of climate action. Second, it imposes inadequate data as knowledge, ignoring the lived experiences of those harmed. Third and lastly, it arises from pernicious ignorance: data inadequacy is seldom maliciously intended, but usually comes as a consequence of the failure to gather and preserve complete and accurate data
Some cases of data inadequacy as epistemic violence
Bayanihan (1962) by Carlos “Botong” Francisco
In order to further understand how data inadequacy could serve as epistemic violence, let us look into the cases of two marginalized sectors in the Philippines: indigenous peoples (IPs) and Persons with Disabilities.
Through the destruction of their cultural heritage, indigenous peoples (IP) in the Philippines have long been victims of epistemic violence. Nevertheless, they also have been constantly underrepresented in data. For one, the number of members of the IP community is only known by the wide estimation of “10-20% of the national population.” Furthermore, they are often grouped according to their geographic location, ignoring the vast diversity of IP groups in their respective areas. Even worse, without sufficient research on inequalities faced by members of the IP community, further obscuring their problems and discouraging interventions.
The same could be said about persons with disabilities. Because the available data are aggregated–i.e., persons with disabilities are not distinguished according to their particular disabilities–policies and programs are usually catered only to the persons with the most visible conditions. Hence, persons with less visible disabilities are often underrepresented and in turn, neglected.
Even worse, in 2021, the House of Representatives Special Committee on Persons with Disabilities found conflicting data sets from different government offices, which revealed that some local governments did not have the mandated Persons with Disability Affairs Offices. Moreover, this controversy stalled the hearings, depriving the persons with disability of much-needed interventions.
In the context of climate change and action, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities cannot be considered, let alone assisted without representation through complete and accurate data. We may attribute these cases of epistemic violence to the lack of resources or foresight, yet this only amounts to pernicious and inexcusable ignorance. Unfortunately, in the current scheme of data in the Philippines, they do not count.
Making the subaltern count
Having discussed the harms of data inadequacy, let us explore some ways to ensure that marginalized sectors are represented in data–i.e., make the subaltern count. These include data disaggregation, statistical capacities building, and public-private partnerships.
Often, data inadequacy is attributed to economic realities. The infrastructure, expertise, and capacities required for analyzing big data is expensive, which explains why low and middle-class countries are lagging behind in this regard. To this end, the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) of the University of Colorado Boulder sought to build statistical capacities in developing countries through training, resources, software, and other tools. Though similar to the LPPDFI’s initiative, LISA aims to build a global statistical infrastructure crossing the different geographic and political boundaries.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics collaborated with think-tank Centre for Policy Dialog (CPD) on a survey about the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s relief programs. CPD Fellow Mustafizur Rahman touted public-private partnerships in data production as a model for developing countries, where the data is vital to growth yet expensive. He adds that this “avoids duplication” of research, while encouraging transparency due to the participation of independent actors from the private sector. Indeed, the lack of funding can no longer be an excuse for the lack of data.
A 2017 article by Paul Muego follows the Las Piñas Persons with Disability Federation, Inc.’s (LPPDFI) initiative to gather, profile, and study the data on persons with disabilities in their city. In particular, they sought to disaggregate the data they would gather. They broke down data into smaller and more precise units, to account for the diverse yet relevant conditions each person with disability would have. In this case, persons with disabilities did not only achieve better representation in the official record, but were also empowered by their practice of leadership skills and capacities as members of their community. These sorts of representations beyond data are what make minority groups count the most.
Conclusion
As Easy as a Bubble (2009) by Ronald L. Jeresano
We have discussed how data inadequacy forcibly replaces the lived experiences of certain marginalized groups, and how this qualifies it as epistemic violence. Then, we elaborated on the real harms of data inadequacy, in the example of indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities in the Philippines. Finally, we discussed how data disaggregation, capacities building and public-private partnerships could help aid in making the subaltern count.
Admittedly, climate change is a complex problem with a lot of moving parts. It is easy to get overwhelmed and overlook certain things and people, including the subaltern. However, there is no excuse: epistemic violence remains an affront to the dignity of the human persons in the subaltern and the minority groups. It is irreconcilable with climate justice, which requires nothing less than inclusivity. Thus, while facing the global problem of climate change, we must always remember to make the subaltern count.
Note: This piece was written by Antonio Ongdueco, an undergraduate intern from the 2023 Summer Internship Program of Parabukas. This article is his individual contribution to on-going discourse on his chosen environmental issue.