Lauermann, Paul David2012-03-302012-03-302011-12https://hdl.handle.net/1794/12121x, 117 p. : ill. (some col.)This thesis interrogates the transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA) program of southern Africa. Promoted since the mid-1990s as the solution to the vexing problems of environmental degradation and rural development in the region, these cross-border projects have attracted a broad coalition of supporters including public and private donor groups, regional politicians, and the international conservation community. Though a large academic literature surrounds the program, a holistic understanding of its development--and an accounting of its success--has yet to emerge. This thesis seeks to rectify this by probing the nature and structure of transfrontier discourse, positing the program's success as directly born of its appeal to a triad of interests composed of donors, national politicians, and the regional conservation community. Further, it is argued that the heavy marketing of the program as a "win-win" scenario for conservation and development has effectively displaced once popular community-based narratives/approaches.en-USrights_reservedAfrican studiesLand use -- Africa, Southern -- PlanningSocial sciencesConservationDevelopmentLand use policyRural developmentTransfrontier conservationThesis