ABSTRACT
Over almost two decades, but especially since the 1990s, traditional knowledge and its relationship with intellectual property rights has been one of the topics at the forefront of interest for academics, social activists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) critical of globalization.1 It has been a hotly contested issue between developing and industrialized countries, especially in intellectual property debates2 and debates about sustainable development and the environment,3 but also in discussions concerning agricultural practices,4 medicine and public health,5 and the human rights of indigenous peoples and local minority groups.6 So what precisely is “traditional knowledge,” how did it gain such prominence among social activists and policymakers, and how does it relate to the “global scripts” referred to in the introductory chapter in this volume?7
