ACCTG 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Ecosystem Services, Biophilia Hypothesis, Environmental Sociology
Tutorial 1
Biodiversity: The Political Career of a Scientific Concept
Problem Statement: how can you we understand biodiversity from a social perspective?
Learning Goals:
1. What is biodiversity and how did the concept come about? (+context, history).
2. What are the different perspectives on valuing biodiversity (from natural sciences,
i.e. 'biophilia', and from the social sciences, i.e. ‘social constructivism’) and how do they
compare to each other?
3.
4. What is meant by ecosystem services? What are advantages and disadvantages?
Readings
1. Abson, D.J, & Hansbach, J. (2014). Response to Turnhout et al.’s rethinking biodiversity.
Conversation Letters, 7(3), 145-161.
Introduction: these authors criticise Turnhout’s identification of the problems with the ‘ecosystem
services concept’.
• This concept “promotes a technocratic and economic perspective on biodiversity and is
reductionist” → it does not say anywhere that ‘ecosystem services’ can/should be represented
by a single measure → many authors argue that multiple measures are required to express the
values that humans ascribe to biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• They “assume a link between monetary valuations and subsequent commodification of
biodiversity” → there is no direct/inevitable link between those valuations and the
commodification → the assignment of property rights is necessary to trade a good on the
market.
• This concept “represents a single discourse that seeks the commodification of nature” → the
field contains multiple discourses seeking to understand the various ways in which humans
ascribe values to nature → this approach seeks to embed biodiversity research within pluralistic
understanding of socio-natural relations.
2. Hannigan, J. (2006). Environmental sociology. London: Routledge (pp. 63-78 & 122-135).
a. Social construction of environmental issues and problems.
Introduction: the construction of environmental issues is similar to that of social issues (highly
complex).
• Nature of claims: rhetorical statements are composed of:
o Grounds: definitions, examples, numeric estimates.
o Warrants: justifications for demanding that action to be taken.
o Conclusions: action needed to alleviate/eradicate the problem.
o The nature of the grounds, warrants and conclusions is formulated according to the
target audience. Hence, we identify two other themes/tactics commonly used in the
construction of environmental problems.
▪ Rhetorical themes: rectitude, values/morality require a problem to receive
attention; rationality, ratifying a claim will earn the audience some benefit;
archetypes, templates from which stereotypes are minted and hence are
persuasive.
▪ Rhetorical strategies: idioms, image clusters such as loss or endangerment;
motifs, or metaphors and other figures of speech such as ‘plagues’; claims-
making styles, which can be scientific, comic or theatrical.
• Idea of the ozone hole: simple terms, reaches people.
• Idea of the plague (invasive species): pace at which it destroys is
uncontrollable.
• Claim-makers: important to know their intentions, whether they are affiliated to specific
organisations, etc.
o Scientific authorities, activists, etc.
o In the context of biodiversity: institutions are very important, governments,
international organisations, etc.
• Claim-making process consists of three overlapping sub-processes which are assembling
environmental claims + presenting environmental claims + contesting environmental claims.
Assembling environmental claims: discovery and elaboration of an incipient problem.
• They may originate in the realm of science (ozone hole), may be found more closely related to
our lives (the side-effects of nuclear power stations), or may be traced back to ‘ordinary
knowledge’ (that of indigenous people of the South).
• The process of assembling involves a rough division of labour (good scientists, good speakers,
etc).
Presenting environmental claims: command attention and legitimate claims.
• Must be seen as novel, important and understandable (hence use of evocative verbal and visual
imagery).
• Sometimes they are exemplified by particular incidents: large-scale socio-economic and
political events (wars) + national disasters and epidemics + industrial and nuclear accidents +
critical encounters + strategic initiatives + policy outcomes.
• However, an event may provoke an environmental issue only when it stimulates media
attention + involves some arm of the government + demands governmental decision + is not
written off by the public as one-time occurrence + relates to the personal interests of a
significant no. of citizens.
• Movement leaders often engage in ‘frame alignment’ whereby environmental groups
manipulate public concerns and perceptions in order to broaden their appeal.
• To legitimise a claim (in the four realms of the media, government, science and public):
o Use rhetorical tactics and strategies.
o Chose legitimate sponsons and authoritative sources of information.
Contesting environmental claims: ensuring ameliorative action.
• Avoid major external constraints (economic crises).
• Avoid the transformation of the issue into a less threatening political issue.
• Avoid postponing the discussion.
• Hence, an ongoing contestation by claim-makers is necessary and successful if:
o Legislators are convinced that the proposal is technically feasible.
o The proposal is compatible with the values of the policymakers.
o The proposal arises in a unique blend of knowledge, timing and luck.
o It belongs to one of the three ideal-type paradigms that occupy the increasingly
contested discourse over global environmental futures global managerialist paradigm,
advocating for the detection and solution of problems in the globalised commons by
means of nation states and international organisations; redistributive development
Document Summary
Biodiversity: the political career of a scientific concept. Readings: abson, d. j, & hansbach, j. (2014). 63-78 & 122-135): social construction of environmental issues and problems. Idea of the ozone hole: simple terms, reaches people. Idea of the plague (invasive species): pace at which it destroys is uncontrollable: claim-makers: important to know their intentions, whether they are affiliated to specific organisations, etc, scientific authorities, activists, etc. In the context of biodiversity: international organisations, etc. institutions are very important, governments: claim-making process consists of three overlapping sub-processes which are assembling environmental claims + presenting environmental claims + contesting environmental claims. Southern countries; or new international sustainability order paradigm, advocating for a fundamental restructuring of the world order establishing a balance between the economic and social sustainability. It reaches a broad audience: claim perceived as unique or distinct, relevant, of high stature, and familiar: biodiversity loss. Introduction: the term biodiversity and the interest in conserving it begins to gain acknowledgement around the 80s/90s.
