1. Social Processes and the Environment Looking at Environmental Problems through the Social Perspective

2. How is the this different from an Ecological Analysis? Deals primarily with people, institutions and how the environmental problem affects social processes. Deals primarily with people, institutions and how the environmental problem affects social processes. Define social processes (NR104) Define social processes (NR104) How are you going to analyze your environmental problem in terms of social processes, in terms of people? How are you going to analyze your environmental problem in terms of social processes, in terms of people? What are the steps? What factors do you need to consider? What are the steps? What factors do you need to consider?

3. Social Processes defined in NR104 Processes in: Processes in: Government Government Economics Economics Social Movements Social Movements Frameworks: Frameworks: Political science Political science Economics Economics Sociology Sociology

4. Steps for Social Analysis Identify pertinent social processes in your environmental problem (this was completed in your problem formulation) Identify pertinent social processes in your environmental problem (this was completed in your problem formulation) Stakeholders and their positions including their VALUES and their PERSPECTIVE on the issue Stakeholders and their positions including their VALUES and their PERSPECTIVE on the issue Stakeholders and their relationship to each other Stakeholders and their relationship to each other Prominent social processes: The market? Citizen groups? Non-profit sector? Individuals? Geographical areas? Certain social groups? Global market? Government/political systems? At which level: local, regional, national? Etc. A combination of several of these? Prominent social processes: The market? Citizen groups? Non-profit sector? Individuals? Geographical areas? Certain social groups? Global market? Government/political systems? At which level: local, regional, national? Etc. A combination of several of these? Draw on material covered in NR 104. Draw on material covered in NR 104.

5. Steps for Social Analysis (cont.) Ask: “How am I going to understand these stakeholders, their relationships, and the pertinent social processes? Ask: “How am I going to understand these stakeholders, their relationships, and the pertinent social processes? “What are the appropriate lenses through which I can better understand the role of social processes in my environmental problem?” (social science disciplines as lenses: political science, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, cultural ecology) “What are the appropriate lenses through which I can better understand the role of social processes in my environmental problem?” (social science disciplines as lenses: political science, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, cultural ecology)

6. Steps for Social Analysis (cont.) Understand the explicit connections between various aspects of your environmental problem and the social issues. Understand the explicit connections between various aspects of your environmental problem and the social issues. This is a step towards integration: begin to understand how the social issues and ecological issues are interconnected and linked. This is a step towards integration: begin to understand how the social issues and ecological issues are interconnected and linked. NOTE: the relationship is usually dynamic: social affected by ecological, ecological affected by social – aspects of the problem have effects on other aspects…circular relationship NOTE: the relationship is usually dynamic: social affected by ecological, ecological affected by social – aspects of the problem have effects on other aspects…circular relationship

7. Factors to consider in Social Analysis Seek to understand the interdependent nature of your problem. How do you do this?

8. Factors to consider in Social Analysis: Social Processes Ask: “What aspects of my environmental issue affect social processes?” Ask: “What aspects of my environmental issue affect social processes?” Ask: “How do the various social processes of the issue affect other components of the problem?” Ask: “How do the various social processes of the issue affect other components of the problem?” NOTE: aspect(s) of the issue can affect various social processes in many different ways and visa versa. Your problems will have many linkages. Your paper seeks to understand these connections. NOTE: aspect(s) of the issue can affect various social processes in many different ways and visa versa. Your problems will have many linkages. Your paper seeks to understand these connections.

9. Factors to consider in Social Analysis (continued) The purpose is to tease apart the various influences of the environmental problem on social processes and the influence of social processes on the issue. The purpose is to tease apart the various influences of the environmental problem on social processes and the influence of social processes on the issue. Goal of this process is to understand the most critical social processes/relationships. Where is the conflict and what is the nature of the conflict? Why does it exist? What are the social components of the conflict? Goal of this process is to understand the most critical social processes/relationships. Where is the conflict and what is the nature of the conflict? Why does it exist? What are the social components of the conflict?

10. Social Aspects of Pesticide Use In Conventional Farming Government Regulation Chemical Corporations Consumers Conventional Farmers Organic Farmers Consumer Health Groups Market Influences (price) Community Participation

11. Chemical Corporations Consumers Conventional Farmers Organic Farmers Consumer Health Groups Government

12. Market Influences (price) Social Aspects of Pesticide Use In Conventional Farming Economy: what effect do prices have on the issue? What is the economic impact? Economy: what effect do prices have on the issue? What is the economic impact? Prices of conventional crops lower due to economies of scale compared to organic crops Prices of conventional crops lower due to economies of scale compared to organic crops Do prices, however, reflect the true cost of conventional crops? Do prices, however, reflect the true cost of conventional crops? An Illustration

13. Economic Impact cont. What about transportation costs (pollution), health costs (what is the effect pesticides on human health), ‘cost’ to biodiversity and soil health, ‘cost’ to farmer (reliance on chemical conglomerates). What about transportation costs (pollution), health costs (what is the effect pesticides on human health), ‘cost’ to biodiversity and soil health, ‘cost’ to farmer (reliance on chemical conglomerates). Externalities are aspects that are not factored into the price/market transactions. Externalities are aspects that are not factored into the price/market transactions. Can now ask two questions: Can now ask two questions:

14. Economic Impact cont. 1. What effect does the market component have on the other social processes/stakeholders: Low conventional prices affect the organic farmer, the consumer (consumer demand is often price sensitive), consumer interest groups (they inform the public as to the true health cost of conventional farming), government policy, etc. Low conventional prices affect the organic farmer, the consumer (consumer demand is often price sensitive), consumer interest groups (they inform the public as to the true health cost of conventional farming), government policy, etc.

15. Economic Impact cont. 2. What is the economic impact on the ‘ecology’ of the problem? We will talk further about the social science/natural science linkages next week.

16. Factors to consider in Social Analysis: Questions to ask What regulations/laws are in place that play a part in this issue? (political) What regulations/laws are in place that play a part in this issue? (political) What is the economic impact of this issue? What market forces influence this issue and how? (economy) What is the economic impact of this issue? What market forces influence this issue and how? (economy) What socioeconomic groups are impacted or play a role in this issue? (socioeconomic) What socioeconomic groups are impacted or play a role in this issue? (socioeconomic) What are the cultural implications of this issue? (cultural) What are the cultural implications of this issue? (cultural)

17. Primary and Secondary Stakeholders Primary stakeholders have a direct stake in the issue. Can also be thought of as the decision makers. They are central to the problem. Primary stakeholders have a direct stake in the issue. Can also be thought of as the decision makers. They are central to the problem. Secondary actors influence/affect the issue, but are not directly influenced/affected by the issue. Secondary actors influence/affect the issue, but are not directly influenced/affected by the issue. Some examples? Some examples?

20. Stakeholders: questions to ask What is the relationship between stakeholders? (direct, indirect, contentious, ambivalent, etc.) What is the relationship between stakeholders? (direct, indirect, contentious, ambivalent, etc.) What are the impacts on the various stakeholders in this issue? (positive, negative, direct, indirect, etc.) What are the impacts on the various stakeholders in this issue? (positive, negative, direct, indirect, etc.)

21. Picture your issue Conceptual model Conceptual model Fishbone Fishbone Other ways? Other ways?

22. Fishbone Chart - Problems with Airline Customer Service

23. Too many Pesticides Too many Pesticides Problem Cause and Effect Diagram Example

24. Stakeholders Social Processes Ecological Resources Stressors Too many pesticides Too many pesticides Main Cause Cause and Effect Diagram Example

25. FarmerFarmer LobbyingLobbying GroundwaterGroundwater Fertile farmland StressorsStressors Too many pesticides Sub-Cause Cause and Effect Diagram Example Stakeholders Social Processes Ecological Resources Source Sub-Cause (Ecological endpoint)

26. FarmerFarmer LobbyingLobbying GroundwaterGroundwater Fertile farmland StressorsStressors Too many pesticides Sub-Cause Cause and Effect Diagram Example Stakeholders Social Processes Ecological Resources Source Sub-Cause (Ecological endpoint)InfluenceInfluencetoxictoxic UsingPesticidesUsingPesticides

27. For Today: See agenda sheet, homework instructions See agenda sheet, homework instructions

28. End