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The “social” aspect of social-ecological systems: a critique of analytical frameworks and findings from a multisite study of coastal sustainability

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Author
Stojanovic, Tim
McNae, Hilda M.
Tett, Paul
Potts, Tavis W.
Reis, Jeanette
Smith, Hance D.
Dillingham, Iain
Date
2016
Type
Article
Publisher
Resilience Alliance
ISSN
1708-3087
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Abstract
We evaluate whether society can adequately be conceptualized as a component of social-ecological systems, given social theory and the current outputs of systems-based research. A mounting critique from the social sciences posits that resilience theory has undertheorized social entities with the concept of social-ecological systems. We trace the way that use of the term has evolved, relating to social science theory. Scientometic and network analysis provide a wide range of empirical data about the origin, growth, and use of this term in academic literature. A content analysis of papers in Ecology and Society demonstrates a marked emphasis in research on institutions, economic incentives, land use, population, social networks, and social learning. These findings are supported by a review of systems science in 18 coastal assessments. This reveals that a systems-based conceptualization tends to limit the kinds of social science research favoring quantitative couplings of social and ecological components and downplaying interpretive traditions of social research. However, the concept of social-ecological systems remains relevant because of the central insights concerning the dynamic coupling between humans and the environment, and its salient critique about the need for multidisciplinary approaches to solve real world problems, drawing on heuristic devices. The findings of this study should lead to more circumspection about whether a systems approach warrants such claims to comprehensiveness. Further methodological advances are required for interdisciplinarity. Yet there is evidence that systems approaches remain highly productive and useful for considering certain social components such as land use and hybrid ecological networks. We clarify advantages and restrictions of utilizing such a concept, and propose a reformulation that supports engagement with wider traditions of research in the social sciences.
Journal/conference proceeding
Ecology and Society;
Citation
Stojanovic, T., H. McNae, P. Tett, T. W. Potts, J. Reis, H. D. Smith, and I. Dillingham. (2016) 'The “social” aspect of social-ecological systems: a critique of analytical frameworks and findings from a multisite study of coastal sustainability', Ecology and Society 21(3):15. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08633-210315
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10369/10170
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08633-210315
Description
Article published in Ecology and Society available at http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08633-210315
Rights
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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  • Welsh Centre for Tourism Research [161]

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