"Place" as an Integrating Concept in Natural Resource Politics: Propositions for a Social Science Research Agenda

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title

Society & Natural Resources

Publication Date

2003

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Volume

16

Issue

2

First Page

87

Last Page

104

Abstract

This article lays out six propositions centering on a relationship between people-place connections and strategic behavior in natural resource politics. The first two propositions suggest a strong and direct connection between self-identity, place, and how individuals perceive and value the environment. The third, fourth, and fifth propositions tie together social group identity and place, particularly emphasizing the influence of social group identity on strategic behavior in natural resource politics. The sixth proposition relates to the geographic scale of place as a strategic choice in natural resource decision making. Taken together, the propositions suggest that natural resource politics is as much a contest over place meanings as it is a competition among interest groups over scarce resources. The place perspective suggests an expanded role for natural resource social scientists as giving voice to meanings and values that may not otherwise be expressed in natural resource decision-making processes.

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Originally published by Taylor & Francis. Publisher's PDF available through remote link.

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