Enhancing the Resilience of Human–Environment Systems: a Social Ecological Perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Resilience studies build on the notion that phenomena in the real world should be understood as dynamic socialecological systems. However, the scholarly community may not be fully aware that social ecology, as a conceptual framework, has a long intellectual history, nor fully cognizant of its foundational theory. In this article, we trace the intellectual roots and core principles of social ecology and demonstrate how these principles enable a broader conceptualization of resilience than may be found in much of the literature. We then illustrate how the resulting notion of resilience as transactional process and multi-capital formation affords new perspectives on diverse phenomena such as global financial crises and adaptation to environmental stresses to communities and ecosystems. A social-ecological analysis of resilience enables the study of peopleenvironment transactions across varying dimensions, time periods, and scales. Furthermore, in its openness to experiential knowledge and action research, the social ecology framework coheres well with participative-collaborative modes of inquiry, which traverse institutional, epistemological, and scale-related boundaries.

A new Himalayan crisis? Exploring transformative resilience pathways

“…Given the escalating challenges in the Himalayas, and failed responses to address them, there is a need to think of a transformative approach, both in terms of resilience and development (Leach et al, 2012;Stokols et al, 2013;Walker and Salt, 2006). While there is a long tradition of multi-scalar governance of the natural resources, what remains lacking is an explicit recognition of the need for emancipatory politics across scales.…”

“…The key themes and elements that are outlined in this emancipatory approach can inform critical debates around current policies and practices in relation to Himalayan development and sustainability. This approach requires 'transformative resilience', which is a process in which social and political relations are recreated so as to redefine the relationship between people and the environment in order to enhance the adaptability of the socio-ecological system (Leach et al, 2012;Stokols et al, 2013;Westley et al, 2011).…”

On fairness & sustainability: Motivating change in the networked society

“…Our interest in the social ecology perspective underscored by Stokols et al [16,28] is due to its understanding of how the resilience of human-environment systems can be enhanced. Grounded in Husserl's phenomenology (i.e.…”

“…Grounded in Husserl's phenomenology (i.e. early work on natural and semiotic worlds), Stokols et al [28] consider resilience as a qualitative attribute emerging from the mutual relationships between the natural dimension (i.e. the material facet) and the dimension of meaning (i.e.…”

“…the social-semiotic facet). For Stokols et al [28] the resilience of human-environment systems depends on the "active or missing, supportive or perverse" [16] relationships between these dimensions and multi-capital formation. Examining these intricate relationships, we believe, is key for envisioning the role of computing in a world with limited natural resources.…”