Towards a Process Epistemology for the Analysis of Social-Ecological System

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Mancilla Garcia ◽  
Tilman Hertz ◽  
Maja Schlüter
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecological System ◽  
Radical Empiricism ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social ◽  
Process Perspective

This paper proposes an epistemological approach to analyse social-ecological systems from a process perspective in order to better tackle the co-constitution of the social and the ecological and the dynamism of these systems. It highlights the usefulness of rethinking our conceptual tools taking processes and relations as the main constituents of reality instead of fundamental substances or essences. We introduce the concept of experience as understood in radical empiricism to critically revise our available concepts through focusing on the concept of difference, exploring apparent contradictions and engaging in assemblage thinking.

The pragmatic holism of social–ecological systems theory: Explaining adaptive capacity in a changing climate

2021 ◽  
pp. 030913252110160
Author(s):  
Sophie Adams
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecological System ◽  
Human Response ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social

Now ubiquitous in research on adaptation to the impacts of anthropogenic climate change is the aim of cultivating adaptive capacity. With its promise to expand the scope of transformative human response within the adaptive dynamics of the social–ecological system, this approach is built upon the integration of the social and ecological, reflecting the ‘pragmatic holism’ at the heart of the concept of the ecological system. This vision is undercut, however, by an ambivalence about the agency of humans to effect adaptive change. I argue that this threatens to recoup the environmental determinism that characterised mid-20th-century theories of adaptation in geography and cognate disciplines – albeit in a new form defined by an understanding of agency as distributed and emergent that is associated with developments in cybernetics and complexity science. This article charts how the currently dominant discourse centred on adaptive capacity has come about and explores what it might mean for the politics of climate change adaptation, as the scope of human action is circumscribed by the adaptive dynamics of the social–ecological system.

scholarly journals A framework for assessing coupling and de-coupling trajectories in river social-ecological systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Quintas-Soriano ◽  
Jodi Brandt ◽  
Colden V. Baxter ◽  
Elena M. Bennett ◽  
Juan Miguel Requena-Mullor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecological System ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Degree Of Coupling ◽  
Over Time

AbstractThe degree of coupling between the social and ecological components of social-ecological systems is seen as fundamental to understanding their functioning, interactions and trajectories. Yet, there is limited work about how to empirically understand the degree of coupling between social and ecological systems, nor the processes by which the degree of coupling could change over time. Here, we introduce a conceptual framework for characterizing trajectories over time of coupling and de-coupling in social-ecological river systems. We analyze two conceptual scenarios describing coupling and de-coupling trajectories in a social-ecological system and define a series of key concepts for understanding social-ecological system trajectories. We tested these coupling and de-coupling trajectories theory by linking these concepts to empirical case examples of two river social-ecological systems in the western United States. Finally, we propose a quantitative approach with the potential for evaluating the level of social-ecological coupling and de-coupling trajectories in other SES contexts. This paper represents an advancing on the identification of specific actions that explain current SES trajectories and immediate actions to reinforce or shift the trajectory.

Social-Ecological Systems in Local Fisheries Communities

2019 ◽  
pp. 304-314
Author(s):  
George O. Tsobanoglou ◽  
Eirini Ioanna Vlachopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Local Conservation ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Systems Framework

Even though the study of the commons has been expanding rapidly in the past years, and there have been multiple cases of successful local conservation initiatives, still, significant gaps in knowledge remain. The Social-Ecological Systems framework attempts to analyse the linkages between the “human system” (society) and the “natural system” (ecosystems). In every conservation attempt, the interactions and feedback between the two systems become evident. By examining thoroughly this relationship through the SES lens, we can develop a deep and holistic understanding of the processes that should be taken into consideration before the implementation of conservation actions. This study, through the exploration of the fisheries management procedures in Japan, attempts to develop an understanding of how the adoption of the Social-Ecological Systems approach could promote local development in the insular periphery of the developed world, in countries like Greece, where public participation in the decision-making processes is limited.

scholarly journals Deltas in Crisis: From Systems to Sophisticated Conjunctions

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1322
Author(s):  
Casper Bruun Jensen ◽  
Atsuro Morita
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Earth System ◽  
Earth System Science ◽  
System Science ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social

In recent years, threatened deltas have emerged as a significant matter of concern in numerous fields. While Earth System science and social-ecological systems focus on topics like global water circulation and sediment transport, social scientists tend to consider the problems facing particular deltas in the context of modernization or (post)-colonial development. There is nevertheless broad agreement that the delta crisis raises fundamental questions about modern approaches to infrastructure planning. Thus, environmental and sustainability scientists have come to recognize “the social” as integral to the delta crisis. This understanding of “the social,” however, takes two quite different forms. As an object of social-ecological systems research, the social is modeled alongside ecological systems. However, as a context for scientific interventions in environmental policy it appears as an obstacle to achieving sustainable delta policies. Based on a careful examination of Earth System science and associated discourses, we show that this instability of “the social”, combined with the ambition to integrate ‘it’ in an encompassing system poses serious problems for interdisciplinary delta research and for more imaginative and inclusive collaborative efforts to tackle the delta crisis—including, but going considerably beyond, policy and governance. Rather than integrative systems, we argue that the situation requires the creation of sophisticated conjunctions of epistemologies, methods, and practices. Such conjunctions, we suggest, pave the way for a cosmo-ecological approach, where social, environmental and sustainability sciences work together with designers, urban planners, policy-makers, and affected or concerned citizens on solving multi-scalar delta problems by working across their differences.

Strengthening post-hoc analysis of community-based fisheries management through the social-ecological systems framework

Marine Policy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Blythe ◽  
Philippa Cohen ◽  
Hampus Eriksson ◽  
Joshua Cinner ◽  
Delvene Boso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Post Hoc Analysis ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Systems Framework

scholarly journals An education approach for the Anthropocene epoch

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e448101119780
Author(s):  
Cristiane Mansur de Moraes Souza
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Social Learning ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Considerable Uncertainty ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social

It is now well established in the literature that there is a need to incorporate the concept of sustainability into education at all study levels. However, there is considerable uncertainty expressed concerning how it could best be achieved and how the resilience concept would enhance this idea. This article aims to address this gap. The objective is to explore aspects of socio-ecological resilience, that underlies a university case study. The methodology is exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory. Results demonstrate that civil engagement university activities are an education approach that provides students with experiences that build skills necessary for addressing the challenges of the Anthropocene Epoch. The conclusion of the article emphasizes that the education for the Anthropocene epoch should consider the enhancement of ecosystem services by demonstrating that humans are part of the social-ecological systems; considering interdisciplinarity as a methodological approach; demonstrating the variety of potentials on participation of stakeholders by civil engagement as developing autonomy both on students and stakeholders and developing the ability for proactive attitudes. Is also enhance learning and social learning by civil engagement and participation.

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