Suchergebnisse

Forschungskonzept Das Nachhaltigkeitsleitbild der Agenda 21 und die damit verknüpften Rollenerwartungen an die Privatwirtschaft sind ein Bezugsrahmen der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit. Die Agenda 21, ein zentrales Dokument der UN-Konferenz für Umwelt und Entwicklung (UNCED 1992), und Dokumente der Folgekonferenzen weisen der Privatwirtschaft eine zentrale Rolle bei der Verwirklichung nachhaltiger Entwicklung zu: Wirtschaftsunternehmen sollen Wertschöpfung auf der Grundlage umweltverträglichen Umgangs mit natürlichen Res-sourcen erreichen. Als verantwortungsvolle Unternehmen sollen sie die Interessen ihrer Anspruchsgruppen berücksichtigen, und diese Gruppen sollen ihrerseits die Privatwirt-schaft bei der Realisierung nachhaltiger Entwicklung unterstützen. Regierungsunabhängige Umweltorganisationen erwarten von der Privatwirtschaft umwelt-verträglichen Umgang mit natürlichen Ressourcen und üben entsprechend Druck auf Unternehmen aus. Die Literatur dokumentiert jedoch Konflikte zwischen dem Rollenver-ständnis der Privatwirtschaft und den Erwartungen internationaler Organisationen und zivilgesellschaftlicher Anspruchsgruppen. Seitens der Unternehmen bestehen Zweifel, ob die Anforderungen dieser Akteure angemessen sind und inwieweit sie die ihnen zuge-wiesene Verantwortung übernehmen sollen. Auf diese Problematik bezieht sich die vor-liegende, 2006 bis 2008 durchgeführte qualitative empirische Untersuchung. Das Ziel der Forschungsarbeit war, den Wissensstand zum Umgang kleiner bis mittelgro-ßer Produktionsunternehmen mit ihren Rohstoff liefernden natürlichen Ressourcen zu erweitern - ihrer Rolle in Marktketten, ihrer Beziehungen zu Stakeholdern und die Berück-sichtigung natürlicher Ressourcen durch ihr Management. Als Beispiel ausgewählt wur-den Holzmöbel erzeugende Unternehmen (Möbelhersteller), eine mittelständische Bran-che der holzverarbeitenden Industrie. Da Möbelproduktion hohe Wertschöpfung aus Roh-holz ermöglicht, erschien dieses Beispiel aufschlussreich im Hinblick auf die allgemeine Annahme der Agenda 21, hohe ökonomische Wertschöpfung aus Holz lasse Impulse für nachhaltige Waldwirtschaft erwarten. Die Untersuchung wurde in Regionen mit unter-schiedlichen gesellschaftlichen, volkswirtschaftlichen und insbesondere forst- und holz-wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen durchgeführt. Forschungsfragen waren: Wie stellt sich "Forst" aus der Sicht von Möbelherstellern dar? In welcher Beziehung stehen Möbelhersteller zu ihren Anspruchsgruppen und wie kom-munizieren sie "Forst" gegenüber diesen Gruppen? Wie berücksichtigen Möbelhersteller "Forst" in ihren Entscheidungen? Der Verfasser stellt diese Forschungsfragen unter den Oberbegriff "Forstrationalität". Das Konstrukt "Forstrationalität" umreißt, wie Entscheidungsträger in der Holzindustrie Wald-bewirtschaftung als ihre Rohstoffbasis wahrnehmen und in Entscheidungen einbeziehen. Es umfasst alle Aspekte der Wahrnehmung und Interpretation sowie des Verhaltens holz-verarbeitender Industrieunternehmen bezüglich ihrer Rohstoffquelle "Forst". Grundlagen hierfür sind Theorien der Ressourcenabhängigkeit (Pfeffer und Salancik 1978/2003; Steimle, 2008) und des Sensemaking (Weick 1995, 2001). Informationen zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfragen wurden in drei Zentren der Möbel-industrie mit unterschiedlichen gesellschaftlichen und forstlichen Rahmenbedingungen in Brasilien und in Deutschland gewonnen: in Rio Branco do Acre (RBA) im brasilianischen Amazonasgebiet; in São Bento do Sul (SBS) in Südbrasilien und in Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) in Deutschland. Die drei Regionen in zwei Ländern vergleichende Feldforschung stellte besondere Anforderungen an die Forschungsmethodik. Vorgehen und Aufbau der Erhebungsinstrumente waren in den drei Regionen identisch: Grundlegendes empirisches Wissen vermittelten Inhaltsanalysen von Fachzeitschriften der Möbelwirtschaft (1) sowie die Auswertung von Sekundärinformationen (2). Telefonische Leitfadeninterviews mit Ex-perten (3) beleuchteten die Unternehmensumfelder und gaben allgemeine Hinweise zum Verhalten von Entscheidungsträgern der Möbelindustrie. Das Spektrum der "Forstrationa-litäten" der Entscheidungsträger erschloss sich im persönlichen Kontakt bei Betriebsbesu-chen; in jeder Region wurden zwei Hersteller von Massivholzmöbeln und ein Hersteller von Möbeln aus Holzwerkstoffen ausgewählt (4). Ergebnisse der Fachzeitschriftenanalyse Die quantitative Inhaltsanalyse von Fachzeitschriften diente dazu, das Gesamtspektrum der für den Wirtschaftszweig Möbelindustrie relevanten Fachthemen kennen zu lernen und die relative Bedeutung der Themenfelder "Umweltschutz" sowie "Waldressour-cen/Forstwirtschaft" einzuschätzen. Zusammenfassend konnten folgende Schlüsse gezo-gen werden: 1. Die Themenfelder "Umwelt" und "Forst" interessieren in der Möbelindustrie, erhalten aber in der Fachpresse weniger Raum als Themenfelder wie Wirtschaft, Technologie und Wettbewerb. 2. Im Themenfeld "Umwelt" sind in Deutschland wie in Brasilien Aspekte des eigenen Produktionsstandortes (innerbetrieblicher Umweltschutz) die bedeutendsten Themen der Möbelindustrie. 3. In der brasilianischen Möbelindustrie stehen "forst"-bezogene Aspekte stärker im Fo-kus als in Deutschland. Ergebnisse der regionalen Fallstudien Ergebnisse der Untersuchungsphasen (2) bis (4) stellt die Dissertation in Form von drei regionalen Fallstudien mit identischer Gliederung vor: a) Rahmenbedingungen der Möbel-hersteller b) Nicht-marktliche Anspruchsgruppen c) Lieferanten von Holzprodukten d) Mö-belabnehmer e) Interaktion der Möbelhersteller untereinander f) Forst- und Umweltmana-gement. Die regionalen Fallstudien bestätigen die Einsicht aus der Fachzeitschriftenanalyse, dass die spezifische Situation des gesamten regionalen Sektors "Forst- und Holzwirtschaft" die brasilianischen Möbelhersteller stärker prägt als die in NRW. So fanden in RBA in jünge-rer Zeit einschneidende forst- und umweltpolitische sowie institutionelle Veränderungen statt, die neue Rahmenbedingungen für alle holzbe- und -verarbeitenden Unternehmen gesetzt haben. In der Region SBS beschäftigt "Forst" die Möbelhersteller ebenso wie an-dere Zweige der Holzwirtschaft wegen eingetretener oder in der Zukunft erwarteter Holz-knappheiten sowie angesichts staatlicher Kontrolle der Verwendung von Holz aus legaler Waldnutzung. In NRW werden hingegen die einheimische Waldbewirtschaftung ebenso wie die Verarbeitung von Vorprodukten aus nichttropischen Holzarten als unproblematisch wahrgenommen, forstliche Themen erscheinen nicht als kritisch im Makroumfeld der Mö-belindustrie. In NRW wie in SBS dominiert die Auseinandersetzung mit gesamt- und bran-chenwirtschaftlichen Kerndaten, mit nationalen und internationalen Markttrends sowie mit technologischen Entwicklungen die Agenda der Möbelhersteller. Die Möbelhersteller unterliegen der Aufsicht von Umweltbehörden. Die Kontrolle des in-nerbetrieblichen Umweltschutzes, zum Teil verknüpft mit Arbeitsschutz, zeigte sich in al-len drei Regionen als Schwerpunkt der Aktivität dieser Behörden. Anders als in Deutsch-land unterliegt in Brasilien die Holzbeschaffung durch holzbe- und -verarbeitende Betriebe behördlicher Kontrolle. Die Fachverbände der Möbelindustrie in allen drei Fallstudienregionen definieren als ihre zentrale Aufgabe die Vertretung der Interessen ihrer Mitgliedsunternehmen gegenüber Politik und Gesellschaft. In beiden brasilianischen Fallstudienregionen, in denen forstbe-zogene Probleme die Möbelindustrie intensiv beschäftigen, sehen die Möbelindustriever-bände forstbezogene Angelegenheiten auch als ihre Aufgabe. In RBA agiert der Verband mit dem Ziel, die behördliche Registrierung von Möbelproduzenten des informellen Sek-tors voranzubringen und diese zur Verarbeitung von Holz aus legaler Waldnutzung zu verpflichten. In SBS haben die Möbelfachverbände in Perioden der Holzknappheit der Entwicklung der regionalen Forstwirtschaft und der Holzversorgung der Möbelindustrie große Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet; zur Zeit der Untersuchung drängten andere wirtschaftli-che Probleme die Waldthematik in den Hintergrund. Die durch die Forschungsarbeit erfassten Möbelhersteller stehen selten in direktem Kon-takt mit privaten Umweltorganisationen. Sie nehmen jedoch wahr, dass diese Organisa-tionen die Rahmenbedingungen der Möbelindustrie durch Verbraucherkampagnen, An-forderungen an die ersten Stufen der Forst-Holz-Wertschöpfungsketten und durch politi-sches Lobbying indirekt beeinflussen. Die Abhängigkeit der Möbelhersteller von Holzproduktlieferanten variiert in den drei Un-tersuchungsregionen. In NRW ist diese Abhängigkeit schwach ausgeprägt, weil die Mö-belhersteller Vorprodukte regional wie überregional problemlos einkaufen können und weil auch große Holzlieferanten Ansprüche der Möbelindustrie etwa bezüglich der Qualität, Abmessungen und Vorfertigung von Schnittholz und Holzwerkstoffen berücksichtigen. In Brasilien stellt sich die Situation anders dar. In SBS haben große bis mittelgroße Möbel-hersteller wegen der Unsicherheit der Holzversorgung und der Qualität von Vorprodukten aus Holz Schritte zur Rückwärtsintegration unternommen (eigene Sägewerke, vereinzelt eigene Bewirtschaftung von Kiefern-Plantagen) oder alternative Vorproduktquellen ge-sucht. In RBA stellt die behördlich kontrollierte Forderung, nur Holz aus "ordentlicher Waldwirtschaft" zu verarbeiten, die zu einem großen Teil staatlich geförderten Möbelher-steller des formellen Sektors vor Probleme. Denn ein hoher Anteil des entsprechenden regional verfügbaren Tropenholzes wird in Form von Holzhalbwaren in andere Regionen Brasiliens verkauft oder exportiert. Für die Möbelhersteller in RBA sind die Einkaufspreise hochwertiger Holzvorprodukte, insbesondere wenn diese aus zertifiziertem Holz erzeugt werden, deshalb in den letzten Jahren stark gestiegen, während die Möbelpreise aufgrund der Konkurrenz zahlreicher kleiner informeller Produzenten, aber auch durch das Angebot kostengünstig produzierter Serienmöbel aus Südbrasilien unter Druck stehen. Nur wenige gut organisierte Möbelhersteller in RBA scheinen bislang tragfähige Strategien zu verfol-gen, um diesem Dilemma zu begegnen. Die Beziehung von Möbelherstellern zu ihren Abnehmern ist in allen drei Fallstudienregio-nen durch Abhängigkeiten der Möbelhersteller geprägt. In RBA hängen formell registrierte Möbelhersteller stark von öffentlichen Aufträgen ab. In SBS sind Möbelhersteller von der Serienproduktion für den Exportmarkt abhängig; vielfach geben Auslandskunden die Mo-delle vor und haben großen Einfluss auf die Möbelpreisbestimmung. Beim Möbelabsatz im Inland stehen die Hersteller in NRW wie in SBS großen Einkaufsverbänden oder Kon-zernunternehmen des Möbeleinzelhandels gegenüber. In allen drei Regionen erhält die Möbelindustrie von ihren unmittelbaren Möbelabnehmern wie von Endverbrauchern nur schwache "Forst"-Signale - die Herkunft des für die angebo-tenen Möbel verarbeiteten Holzes aus "legaler" oder "nachhaltiger" Waldbewirtschaftung ist allenfalls ein nachrangiges Einkaufskriterium bzw. ist sie nur in Marktnischen relevant. Eine Ausnahme bilden die öffentlichen Auftraggeber in RBA, deren Möbelbeschaffung explizit den Aufbau nachhaltiger regionaler Forst-Holz-Wertschöpfungsketten in Acre stüt-zen soll. Experten der drei Untersuchungsregionen bezeichneten die Interaktion von Möbelherstel-lern untereinander als wenig kollegial, sondern wettbewerbsgeprägt. Unternehmen koope-rierten primär in für den Wettbewerb wenig relevanten Bereichen (z.B. gemeinsame Mes-sebesuche im Ausland). Die Initiative zu intensiverer Kooperation gehe häufig von Ver-bänden oder staatlichen Organisationen aus. Die Unternehmensbesichtigungen und Gespräche mit Experten zeigten, dass die in die Untersuchung einbezogenen Möbelhersteller nicht über ein systematisch aufgebautes Umweltmanagement verfügen. Die Beschäftigung mit Umweltproblemen orientiere sich vorwiegend an den für sie relevanten umweltrechtlichen Vorschriften. In NRW befolgen die Möbelhersteller nach Experteneinschätzung durchweg die Umweltauflagen; ihre Pro-duktionsbetriebe unterliegen strengen Kontrollen der Umweltbehörden. In Brasilien um-fassen behördliche Umweltschutzanforderungen für Möbelhersteller zusätzlich zum inner-betrieblichen Umweltschutz auch die Auflage, die Holzherkunft aus legaler Waldnutzung nachzuweisen. Bezüglich der Umsetzung der Umweltschutzanforderungen auf betriebli-cher Ebene ergab sich in beiden brasilianischen Regionen ein differenziertes Bild. Theoriebezogene Ergebnisinterpretation Der Verfasser versuchte zu verstehen, wie Unternehmer und Manager in der holzverar-beitenden Industrie das eigene Umfeld wahrnehmen und deuten, wie sie Entscheidungen treffen und begründen. Im Fokus stand die Forstrationalität von Entscheidungsträgern in möbelerzeugenden Unternehmen. Von ihm verfolgte Interpretationsansätze waren: 1. die Unterscheidung von Anlässen forstbezogenen Verhaltens der Möbelhersteller; 2. die Unterscheidung von Verhaltensbezugsebenen und Zeithorizonten; 3. die Prüfung, inwieweit das spezifische Verhalten bezüglich der für die Möbelher-stellung beanspruchten natürlichen Ressource Wald generellen Verhaltensmu-stern von Entscheidungsträgern in Produktionsunternehmen entspricht. Zu (1) Anlässe forstbezogenen Verhaltens Gefragt werden kann nach der wahrgenommenen Dringlichkeit forstbezogener Signale, die ein Möbelhersteller aus seinem Umfeld erhält: Können Anspruchsgruppen aus seiner Sicht ein bestimmtes forstbezogenes Verhalten verlangen bzw. erzwingen? Die Fallstudi-en legen den Schluss nahe, dass Möbelhersteller Einflüsse von Produktketten-externen Anspruchsgruppen wahrnehmen und reflektieren. Die Intensität wahrgenommener An-sprüche ist jedoch offenbar nur selten so hoch, dass sie Reaktionen der Möbelhersteller auslöst. In der Untersuchung erkennbar waren aber Verhaltensänderungen brasilianischer Möbelhersteller nach Einführung der DOF-Dokumentation zum Nachweis der Beschaffung von Holz aus legalen Quellen. Im Umkehrschluss lässt sich vermuten, dass Möbelherstel-ler forstbezogene Themen aus ihren Umfeldern vorwiegend als Signale wahrnehmen, die sie ihrem Selbstverständnis entsprechend individuell bewertet mit ihren Strategien ver-knüpfen, die sie aber auch ignorieren können. Die Art der für die Herstellung eines Möbelstücks verwendeten Holzvorprodukte bzw. die Materialkombination lenkt die Aufmerksamkeit von Möbelkäufern mehr oder minder stark auf den Bezug zum "Forst", wodurch auch die Forstrationalität der Möbelhersteller beein-flusst wird. In der Untersuchung ergaben sich diesbezüglich Unterschiede des Selbstver-ständnisses und der Marketingkommunikation zwischen Herstellern von Möbeln aus Holzwerkstoffen und aus Massivholz, bei den letzteren wiederum bezüglich der Möbelher-stellung aus Tropenholz oder nicht-tropischen Holzarten. Hersteller von Massivholzmö-beln stellten häufig einen Bezug ihrer Möbel zur Natur oder zum Wald her. Dabei betonten Hersteller von Tropenholzmöbeln die Individualität einzigartiger Holzarten aus artenrei-chen Naturwäldern; Hersteller von Möbeln aus nicht-tropischen Holzarten hingegen hoben die Herkunft der Möbelhölzer aus nachhaltig bewirtschafteten "nicht-tropischen" Wäldern hervor. Hersteller von Holzwerkstoffmöbeln argumentierten "ökologisch" mit den Vorteilen hoher Holzausbeute bei der Herstellung und Verarbeitung von Holzwerkstoffen, wodurch Waldressourcen geschont würden. Die brasilianischen Möbelhersteller sehen sich mit Ungewissheiten der Holzversorgung konfrontiert; sie interpretieren diese unterschiedlich, auch innerhalb der beiden Fallstudi-enregionen. In allen drei Untersuchungsregionen bekannten sich die in die Untersuchung einbezogenen Möbelhersteller zur Verarbeitung von Holz aus unbedenklichen Quellen. Sie erwarten Absatzrisiken für den Fall diesbezüglicher Zweifel ihrer Abnehmer. Gegen-wärtig sei kritisches Hinterfragen der Herkunft von Möbelhölzern seitens der Möbelab-nehmer jedoch selten und beziehe sich vorwiegend auf Tropenholz. Zu (2) Verhaltensbezugsebenen und Zeithorizonte Waldbewirtschaftung ist nur in wenigen Fällen ein eigenes Tätigkeitsfeld von Möbelher-stellern. Mit ihrem forstbezogenen Verhalten ergreifen Möbelhersteller folglich in der Re-gel nicht unmittelbar forstwirtschaftliche Maßnahmen, sondern beeinflussen diese indirekt oder reagieren auf die von anderen Akteuren gesetzten Forstthemen. Dies erfolgt zum einen durch Auswahl der für die Möbelproduktion eingesetzten Materialien und deren Be-schaffung, also durch ein direkt an die Möbelproduktion gebundenes Verhalten. Zum an-deren geschieht dies durch den Umgang und die Kommunikation mit Anspruchsgruppen im unmittelbaren Umfeld und im Makroumfeld. Materialorientiertes Verhalten und die Be-ziehungen zu Anspruchsgruppen stehen jedoch nicht isoliert nebeneinander, sondern können miteinander verknüpft sein, etwa weil bei Materialwahl-Entscheidungen das Ver-trauen zu Lieferanten und Abnehmerpräferenzen berücksichtigt werden. Mit Blick auf die Zeithorizonte der Entscheidungen von Möbelherstellern machte die Ana-lyse deutlich, dass in deren Kurzfristperspektive Forstrationalität von untergeordneter Be-deutung ist und andere Aspekte der Unternehmensumfelder im Vordergrund stehen (z.B. Holzversorgung für das aktuelle Produktionsprogramm und Wettbewerb). In der mittel- und langfristigen Zeitperspektive hingegen erhalten forstbezogene Überlegungen und Maßnahmen (wie Einsatz alternativer Holzvorprodukte oder Verwendung von Holz aus zertifizierter Waldbewirtschaftung) größeres Gewicht. Zu (3) Spiegelt Forstrationalität generelle Verhaltensmuster? Etliche der in der Forschungsarbeit registrierten Ausprägungen von Forstrationalität der Möbelhersteller lassen sich allgemeinen Verhaltensmustern von Entscheidungsträgern in Wirtschaftsunternehmen zuordnen: Legitimation: Die in die Untersuchung einbezogenen Möbelhersteller in allen drei Unter-suchungsregionen hoben hervor, ihr eigenes forstbezogenes Verhalten, insbesondere die Wahl der verarbeiteten Holzvorprodukte, sei gesetzeskonform und ökologisch unbedenk-lich. Diesen Standpunkt vertraten sie unabhängig von ihren jeweiligen Möglichkeiten, die Rohstoffquellen der beschafften Materialien zu beurteilen und zu beeinflussen. Anpassung: Die Möbelhersteller reagieren auf Anforderungen aus ihren Umfeldern, etwa auf behördliche Vorschriften und Kontrollen, Kritik von Umweltschutzverbänden, Nachfra-ge von Verbrauchern oder veränderte Wettbewerbsbedingungen. Solche Reaktionen schließen auch das forstbezogene Verhalten ein, wobei Vermeidung (zum Beispiel Ver-zicht auf die Verarbeitung von Tropenholz) ein alternatives oder komplementäres Verhal-ten sein kann. Antizipation: Unternehmen entwickeln Antizipationsstrategien, um sich auf erwartete zu-künftige Herausforderungen, Risiken und Chancen frühzeitig einzustellen. Dieses Verhal-ten zeigten Möbelhersteller in allen drei Untersuchungsregionen, etwa in ihrem Umgang mit der Forst-Holz-Produktketten-Zertifizierung oder der Erprobung neuer Holzarten und Holzwerkstoffe. Innovation: Sie ist eine Form der Umsetzung von Anpassung und Antizipation, ist aber für die Massivholz-Möbelhersteller auch eine eigenständige Verhaltensform. Zum Teil haben sie dabei Aspekte der Waldbewirtschaftung (besonders deutlich bei den Möbelherstellern in SBS, die Plantagenbewirtschaftung als neues Geschäftsfeld integriert haben) und der Weiterentwicklung ihrer Rohstoffbasis von vornherein im Blick, zum Teil ergeben sich se-kundäre Effekte für die Forstwirtschaft. Die vorliegende Untersuchung zur "Forstrationalität" holzverarbeitender Unternehmen hat gezeigt, dass Möbelhersteller Stärken und Schwächen der Waldnutzung in ihrer Standort-region wahrnehmen und forstbezogene Entscheidungen reflektiert treffen. Wie sie ent-scheiden, hängt von den Rahmenbedingungen der Industrie, dem Verhalten ihrer An-spruchsgruppen, von den spezifischen Unternehmensstrategien, auch von Wertvorstel-lungen der Eigentümer und Manager ab. Ihnen stehen bestimmte staatliche und private Anspruchsgruppen mit Erwartungen gegenüber, die dem Konzept nachhaltiger Entwick-lung der Agenda 21 entsprechen. Die Unternehmensbeispiele der Fallstudien zeigen ein-zelne Ansatzpunkte für die Verwirklichung nachhaltiger Entwicklung in waldreichen Re-gionen durch die Herstellung von Möbeln. Jedoch erscheint das gegenwärtige forstbezo-gene Verhalten der Möbelhersteller nicht umfassend nachhaltigkeitsorientiert, sondern pragmatisch selektiv abgestimmt auf die Erfordernisse, Interessen und Handlungsmög-lichkeiten der Unternehmen. Potenzial der Möbelindustrie, höhere Wertschöpfung durch immaterielle Phasen der Produktion (ihr Marketing, speziell die Produktgestaltung) zu erreichen, ist vorhanden. Auf der Grundlage neutraler Nachhaltigkeitsüberprüfung in der Holzwertschöpfungskette durch anerkannte Forstzertifizierungs-Systeme könnten von Holzmöbelherstellern durchaus stärkere Impulse für die Entwicklung und Aufrechterhal-tung nachhaltiger Forstwirtschaft ausgehen. Abschließend seien die theoretischen Erklärungsansätze Ressourcenabhängigkeit und Sensemaking angesprochen, denen in dieser Forschungsarbeit gefolgt wurde. Der Zu-sammenhang zwischen beiden ist bereits aus Pfeffer (1978) ableitbar. Steimle (2008) stellt diesen Zusammenhang explizit her, um das Nachhaltigkeitsverhalten von Unter-nehmen theoretisch zu erklären. Auch der Verfasser kombinierte beide Ansätze: Das Konzept der Ressourcenabhängigkeit war hilfreich bei der Analyse der Umfeldeinbettung der Möbelhersteller und bei der Interpretation ihrer Beziehungen zu bestimmten An-spruchsgruppen; der Sensemaking-Ansatz erleichterte es, die Umfeldwahrnehmung aus Sicht der Entscheidungsträger in der Möbelindustrie und ihr forstbezogenes Verhalten zu verstehen. ; Research concept The guideline to sustainability provided by Agenda 21, and the associated expectations of private enterprise with respect to their role in sustainability, represent a frame of reference for the study presented in this Ph.D. thesis. Agenda 21, a central document of the United Nations Conference on Climate and Development (UNCED 1992), and documents pro-duced by the following conferences attribute a central role to private enterprise in the real-isation of sustainable development. Commercial enterprises are expected to create value on the basis of an environmentally acceptable use of natural resources. Responsible en-terprises should accommodate the interests of the respective stakeholder groups, and these groups should in turn support private enterprise in the achievement of sustainable development. Non-governmental environmental organisations' expectations of private enterprise revolve around the environmentally appropriate use of natural resources and, accordingly, they exert pressure on businesses to do so. Nevertheless, the literature documents conflicts between commercial enterprise's understanding of its role and the expectations of interna-tional organisations and civil stakeholder groups. From the perspective of enterprise, doubts exist over whether the demands of these actors are reasonable and over the ex-tent to which commercial enterprise should assume the responsibility attributed to it. The objective of this study was to deepen the knowledge of the use by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) of the natural resources providing the raw materials necessary for their production activities – their role in market chains, their relationships with stake-holders and the consideration given to the management of natural resources. Enterprises manufacturing wood furniture were chosen for the study, as a representative example of an SME branch within the wood processing industry. As furniture production facilitates high value creation from raw wood, this example was deemed to be revealing with respect to the general assumption of Agenda 21 that high economic value creation from wood generates impulses for sustainable forestry. The investigation was carried out in regions with contrasting social, economic and especially forest and wood industry framework con-ditions. The research questions were: How do furniture manufacturers perceive 'forestry'? What is the relationship between furniture producers and the corresponding stakeholder groups, and how do they communicate 'forestry' to these groups? How do furniture producers ac-count for 'forestry' in their decisions? The author posed these questions under the overarching concept 'forest rationality.' The 'forest rationality' construct outlines how decision makers in the wood industry perceive forest management as the basis of their raw material supply, and how they account for it within decision making. It incorporates all aspects of the perception and interpretation, as well as the behaviour of wood processing enterprises with respect to the source of their raw material, 'forestry.' The basis for this is theories relating to resource dependence (Pfeffer and Salancik 1978, 2003; Steimle, 2008) and 'sensemaking' (Weick 1995, 2001). The information used to answer the research questions was obtained from three centres of the furniture industry in Brazil and in Germany, each with different social and forestry framework conditions. The three centres were in Rio Branco do Acre (RBA) in the Bra-zilian Amazon, in São Bento do Sul (SBS) in southern Brazil and in Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) in Germany. The comparative data collection carried out in the three regions posed particular demands in terms of the research methods. The approach chosen and the design of the data collection instruments were identical in the three regions. Funda-mental empirical knowledge was provided by means of a content analysis of furniture in-dustry journals (1) and the evaluation of secondary information (2). Guided telephone interviews with experts (3) illuminated the environments in which the enterprises operate and provided general insights into the behaviour of decision makers in the furniture in-dustry. The spectrum of forestry reasoning of the decision makers was further developed through personal contact made during visits to companies. In each region two producers of solid wood furniture and a producer of furniture from derived timber products were se-lected (4). Results of the journal analysis The quantitative content analysis of industry journals served to provide information about the overall spectrum of issues relevant for the furniture industry, and allowed for an as-sessment of the relative significance of the issues 'environmental protection' and 'forest resources/forestry.' The conclusions may be summarised as follows: 1. The issues 'environment' and 'forestry' are of interest within the furniture sector, but receive less attention in the industry press than topics such as economics, technology and competition. 2. In the furniture industry in both Germany and Brazil, the most important themes under the heading 'environment' are aspects concerning the local production site (enterprise-internal environmental protection). 3. 'Forestry'-related aspects are the focus of greater attention within the Brazilian fur-niture industry than the German. Results of the regional case studies The results of the research phases (2) to (4) are presented in the dissertation in the form of three regional case studies with an identical structure, namely a) the framework condi-tions affecting furniture manufacturers, b) non-market stakeholder groups, c) suppliers of wood products, d) furniture consumers, e) interaction between furniture manufacturers, f) forest and environmental management. The regional case studies confirmed the view provided by the analysis of the industry press that the specific situation of the entire regional 'forestry and wood industry' affects the Brazilian furniture manufacturers more so than those in NRW. In RBA there have re-cently been drastic changes in forestry and environmental policy, as well as institutional changes, which have generated new framework conditions for all wood producing and processing enterprises. In the SBS region 'forestry' occupies furniture manufacturers as much as other branches of the wood sector due to existing or expected future shortages of wood, and as a consequence of state control over the use of wood from legitimate forestry. In NRW, on the other hand, native forest management and the processing of materials derived from non-tropical tree species are considered to be unproblematic, and forestry-related themes do not appear to be critical in the macro-environment of the furni-ture industry. In NRW and in SBS the issue of core economic data for the sector as a whole, and branches within the sector, of national and international market trends and of technological developments dominate the agenda of the furniture manufacturers. The furniture manufacturers are subject to restrictions imposed by environmental authori-ties. The control of enterprise-internal environmental protection, linked in part with work safety, was identified as a focus of the activities of these authorities in all three regions. Unlike in Germany, in Brazil the sourcing of wood by wood processing enterprises is sub-ject to official control. The representative associations within the furniture industry in all three case study regions define as their central task the representation of the interests of their member organisa-tions to policy makers and society. In both Brazilian case study regions, in which forestry-related problems greatly occupy the furniture industry, the furniture industry associations also view forestry-related matters as being within their remit. In RBA the responsible as-sociation is seeking to advance the official registration of furniture manufacturers within the informal sector and to oblige them to process only wood obtained from legal sources. In SBS the furniture associations have focused considerable attention on the development of regional forestry and the supply of wood to the furniture industry in periods of wood shortage. At the time of this study, however, other economic problems had pushed the issue of forestry into the background. It was observed that the furniture producers studied as part of the research are rarely in direct contact with private environmental organisations. However, they are aware that these organisations indirectly influence the framework conditions affecting the furniture industry through consumer campaigns, by placing demands on the first links of the forest-wood value chain and through political lobbying. The dependence of the furniture producers on the suppliers of wood products varies be-tween the three study regions. This dependency is weak in NRW because the furniture manufacturers can source materials regionally and beyond without any difficulties, and because large wood suppliers take into consideration the demands of the furniture in-dustry with respect to quality, dimensions and the preparation of sawn wood and derived timber materials. This contrasts with the situation in Brazil. In SBS large to moderately large furniture manufacturers have taken a number of steps towards backward vertical integration (establishment of own sawmills, in some cases resorting to the management of pine plantations) or have sought alternative sources of pre-finished materials. The rea-sons for this are the uncertainty of the wood supply and the quality of the pre-finished wood products. In RBA the statutory requirement that only wood derived from 'legitimate sources' be used in manufacturing poses problems for the largely state-sponsored furni-ture manufacturers in the formal sector. A large proportion of the regionally available tropical wood is sold in or exported to other regions of Brazil in the form of part-wood goods. The prices paid by furniture manufacturers for high quality pre-finished wood pro-ducts, particularly those made of certified wood, have increased considerably in recent years, whereas furniture prices are under great pressure due to competition from numer-ous small, informal manufacturers and as a result of the supply of cheaply manufactured, mass produced furniture from southern Brazil. As yet, only a few well-organised furniture manufacturers in RBA appear to have adopted a strategy capable of countering this di-lemma. In all three regions the relationship between furniture manufacturers and their customers is characterised by dependencies of the furniture manufacturers. In RBA formally regis-tered furniture manufacturers are greatly dependent upon public contracts. In SBS furni-ture manufacturers are dependent upon mass production for the export market, with inter-national customers often specifying the models and exerting a considerable influence on price setting. In terms of national sales, the manufacturers in NRW and in SBS are pitted against the large purchasing associations and groups within the furniture retail industry. In all three regions the furniture industry receives only weak 'forestry' signals from its di-rect costumers and end users – that the wood used in the furniture provided is sourced from 'legal' or 'sustainable' forest management is, at best, a subordinate purchase cri-terion, or is only relevant in niches within the market. The public clients in RBA are an exception as their furniture acquisitions are explicitly intended to support the development of sustainable regional forest-wood value chains in Acre. Experts from the three research regions characterised the interaction between furniture manufacturers as competitive, with little cooperation evident. Any cooperation between the enterprises occurs primarily in those areas that are of little relevance for competition (e.g., visits to exhibitions abroad). Initiatives prompting intensive cooperation often stem from associations or governmental organisations. The visits to the enterprises in the three regions and discussions with the experts revealed that the furniture manufacturers involved in the study do not possess a systematically de-veloped system of environmental management. Consideration of environmental problems is oriented primarily towards the relevant environmental regulations. According to the ex-perts, in NRW the furniture manufacturers adhere to the rules. Their production facilities are subject to strict controls by the environmental authorities. In Brazil the statutory envi-ronmental regulations for furniture manufacturers include not only the enterprise-internal environmental protection stipulations but also the means to demonstrate that the wood used stems from legal sources. The implementation of the environmental protection re-quirements at operational level was found to be variable in the two Brazilian regions. Interpretation of the results in a theoretical context The author sought to understand how entrepreneurs and managers in the wood process-ing industry perceive and interpret their own environment; how they make and justify deci-sions. The focus was on the forestry reasoning exhibited by decision makers in furniture manufacturing enterprises. The interpretative approaches followed were: 1. The differentiation of motives for forestry-relevant behaviour displayed by furniture manufacturers; 2. The differentiation of behavioural planes of reference and time horizons; 3. The examination of the extent to which the specific behaviour with respect to the forest resource, as the principal source of the raw material used in the manufac-ture of furniture, corresponds to the general behavioural patterns of decision mak-ers in manufacturing enterprises. On (1) motives for forestry-related behaviour One might enquire as to the perceived urgency of the forestry-related signals that a furni-ture manufacturer receives from his environment: can, as far as the manufacturer is con-cerned, stakeholder groups demand or even force a certain forestry-related behaviour? The case studies suggest that furniture manufacturers perceive and take into consider-ation influences exerted by stakeholder groups external to the product chain. It would ap-pear, however, that the intensity of the perceived demands is rarely so high as to cause a reaction on the part of the manufacturers. Changes in the behaviour of Brazilian manufac-turers did become evident in the study after the introduction of the DOF documentation requiring that they be able to prove the wood they use is sourced legally. Conversely, it can be assumed that furniture manufacturers predominantly perceive forestry-related themes within their environment as signals, which they assess individually on the basis of their own beliefs and either integrate within their strategies or ignore. The type of pre-finished wood product – or combination of materials – used in the manu-facture of a piece of furniture serves to focus the attention of furniture buyers onto the relationship with 'forestry' to a greater or lesser extent, through which the forestry reason-ing of the manufacturers is also influenced. The investigation revealed differences in understanding and in marketing approaches between the manufacturers of furniture made of derived timber products and those of furniture made from solid wood; and in the latter case there was a further distinction between users of tropical and non-tropical tree spe-cies. The manufacturers of solid wood furniture often draw a link between their furniture and nature or the forest. Manufacturers of furniture made with tropical wood emphasise the individuality of unique types of wood stemming from natural forests rich in species. The manufacturers of furniture using non-tropical species, alternatively, accentuate the fact that their wood stems from sustainably managed 'non-tropical' forests. Manufacturers using derived timber products base their 'ecological' arguments on the advantages of the low levels of waste in the production and processing of derived timber products, as a re-sult of which forest resources are used more efficiently. The Brazilian furniture manufacturers are concerned by the uncertainties surrounding the supply of wood. The associated problems are perceived differently by different manufac-turers, even within the two case study regions. In all three study regions the furniture manufacturers involved in the study avowed the use of wood from legitimate sources, and expect risks to their sales if their customers were to have doubts in this regard. At present there is little critical scrutiny of the origins of the wood used in furniture by the consumer, however, and that which exists focuses predominantly on the use of tropical wood. On (2) behavioural planes of reference and time horizons In only very few cases is forest management an activity undertaken by furniture manufac-turers. The forestry-related behaviour of the furniture manufacturers does not involve di-rect participation in forest management operations, but rather in influencing these indi-rectly, or in reacting to the forest issues taken up by other actors. This is expressed in the choice of the materials used in furniture manufacture, and in their procurement; that is, through behaviour linked directly to furniture manufacture. It is also expressed in the communication with stakeholder groups situated in the enterprises' immediate surround-ings and in their macro-environment. Material-oriented behaviour and the relationship with stakeholder groups are not independent issues but may be linked; for example, because in decisions concerning material selection the manufacturer's trust in the supplier and the preferences of the consumers are taken into consideration. In terms of the time horizons of the decisions made by furniture manufacturers, the analy-sis made clear that forestry reasoning plays a subordinate role in their short term perspec-tive, and that other aspects are of greater importance for the enterprises in question (e.g., wood supply for the current production programme and competition). Forestry-related considerations and measures (e.g., the use of alternative pre-finished wood products or the use of certified wood) are afforded greater weighting in the medium to long term. On (3) whether forest rationality reflects general patterns of behaviour Many of the forms of forest rationality of the furniture manufacturers identified in the re-search can be matched to general behavioural patterns of decision makers in commercial enterprises: Legitimacy: The furniture manufacturers from all three regions involved in the study em-phasised that their own forestry-related behaviour complies with the law and is ecologi-cally sound, particularly the choice of pre-finished wood products. They adopted this posi-tion irrespective of their abilities to judge or influence the sources of the raw materials pro-cured. Adaptation: The furniture manufactures react to demands from their environment, such as statutory regulations and controls, criticism from environmental protection associations, requests from customers and altered competition conditions. Such reactions also incorpo-rate their forestry-related behaviour, with avoidance (e.g., avoiding the use of tropical wood) a possible alternative or complementary behaviour. Anticipation: Enterprises develop anticipation strategies in order to prepare in advance for expected future challenges, risks and opportunities. This behaviour was exhibited by furni-ture manufacturers in all three study areas; for example, in their manner of dealing with forest-wood product chain certification and in the testing of new wood types and derived timber products. Innovation: Innovation is a form of manifestation of adaptation and anticipation, but is also a distinct form of behaviour in the case of the manufacturers of solid wood furniture. They have, to a certain extent, aspects of forest management (particularly evident in the case of the furniture manufacturers in SBS that have integrated plantation management as a new area of operations) and the further development of their raw material base firmly in focus from the outset. There are also secondary effects for forestry. This study of the 'forest rationality' of wood processing enterprises shows that furniture manufacturers perceive the strengths and weaknesses associated with forest utilisation in their regions, and that they reflect carefully on forestry-related decisions. The decisions they make depend on the framework conditions within the industry, the behaviour of the associated stakeholder groups, the strategy of the specific enterprise and on the ideals of the owners and managers. They are confronted by the expectations of certain state and private stakeholder groups; expectations that correspond with the concept of sustainable development espoused by Agenda 21. The enterprises included in the case studies re-vealed individual starting points for the achievement of sustainable development in forest-rich regions through the production of furniture. However, the current forestry-related be-haviour of the manufacturers is not comprehensively geared towards sustainability. Rather it is pragmatically selective, tailored to the needs, interests and possible courses of action available to the respective enterprise. The potential for furniture manufacturers to achieve greater value creation in the non-material phases of the production process (marketing, and especially product design) exists. On the basis of neutral sustainability assessments in the wood value creation chain, carried out by recognised forestry certification systems, it is certainly possible for manufacturers of wood furniture to create greater impulses for the development and maintenance of sustainable forestry. Finally, to the theoretical approaches offering a potential explanation considered in the study, namely resource dependence and 'sensemaking.' The connection between the two could already be inferred from Pfeffer (1978). Steimle (2008) revealed the link between the two explicitly, in order to explain theoretically the sustainability behaviour of enter-prises. The author of this study also combined both approaches. The concept of resource dependence was helpful in the analysis of how embedded manufacturers are in their envi-ronment, and in the interpretation of their relationship with certain stakeholder groups. The 'sensemaking' approach rendered it easier to understand the perception by decision mak-ers in the industry of their business environment and their forestry-related behaviour.

Our global ecological crisis demands that we question the rationality of the culture that has caused it: western modernity's free market capitalism. Philip Goodchild develops arguments from Nietzsche, Adorno, Horkheimer, and Marx, to suggest that our love of Western modernity is an expression of a piety in which capitalism becomes a global religion, in practice, if not always in belief. This book presents a philosophical alternative that demands attention from philosophers, critical theorists, philosophers of religion, theologians, and those in ecological politics.

AbstractThis article addresses the question as to why, in contrast to national governments, city administrations engage so enthusiastically with urban environmental problems. It argues that the politics of urban environmentalism need to be examined not from the point of view of ecological rationality and alternative politics, but as an integral part of spatial transformation and social regulation under neoliberal urbanization. Recent contributions to theoretical debate on this issue are examined, with especial attention paid to the themes of governance, citizenship, subjectivity and 'regulation of the self', and their relevance to the understanding of contemporary urban environmental policy and management practices. The article explores the way in which urban environmental management can be understood as contributing to the constitution of the self‐governing citizen in the individualized urban milieu of contemporary cities, a process in which the progressive and libertarian aspirations of much early environmental thought have been subtly converted into a new form of subjection to the strategic requirements and political conveniences of neoliberal city administrations.RésuméQuelles sont les raisons pour lesquelles, contrairement aux gouvernements nationaux, les autorités administratives des villes se lancent avec autant d'enthousiasme dans les questions d'environnement urbain ? Il faut examiner la politique d'environnementalisme urbain, non pas en termes de rationalitéécologique ou de politique alternative, mais comme une partie intégrante de la transformation spatiale et de la régulation sociale découlant d'une urbanisation néolibérale. En étudiant de récentes contributions au débat théorique à cet égard, l'article s'attache aux thèmes de gouvernance, citoyenneté, subjectivité et 'régulation de soi', ainsi qu'à leur pertinence aux fins de mieux comprendre la politique publique contemporaine en environnement urbain et ses pratiques de gestion. Ainsi, la gestion environnementale urbaine peut‐elle être envisagée comme un apport permettant la constitution du citoyen autonome dans le milieu urbain individualisé que sont les grandes villes contemporaines, un processus dans lequel les aspirations progressistes et libertaires d'une réflexion environnementale déjà ancienne ont été converties subtilement en une nouvelle forme de soumission aux besoins stratégiques et convenances politiques propres aux administrations municipales néolibérales.

"Positioning of an advertising and television designer. Unleashed by ecological and social destruction, a
vague sense of shame is spreading amongst the players of business life. This shame can become a
performance driver for a new rationality of responsibility – for intervention in our overheated system.
Goverments' discourse becomes the ideal business relationship amongst all economic subjects." (author's abstract)

In the course of the 1990s, the ideas and practices of environmentalism tended to lose whatever politically mobilizing force they might earlier have had, and largely came to resemble what Herbert Marcuse, in his classic text of the 1960s, termed the pure stuff of administration. The redefinition of environmental politics as an ambiguous quest for sustainable development can be seen as a form of reification, bringing environmental politics under the control of the established order and its administrative apparatus and making environmental problems amenable to the objective and instrumental procedures of technological rationality. What had seemed for many of us in the late 1970s to be a broad, social movement out to save the planet from further environmental destruction and ecological deterioration has given way to a much more amorphous, and socially acceptable political agenda and range of practical activity. The "environmental movement" has been effectively stripped of its underlying human meanings and motivations and instead transformed into institutions and professions; and the ideas of political ecology and the practices of appropriate technology have become a fragmented array of institutional, intellectual and practical activity, what I have termed the "making of green knowledge" (Jamison 2001). This paper is an attempt to explore some of the cultural dynamics of these transformation processes in terms of the human agency that have been involved in this multifarious shift in political agenda and practical focus.

This paper is intended to open a sociological inquiry on a crucial problem for the future of humankind: its capacity to respond to the global ecological risk. Starting with a critical overview on the possibilities of a "reflexive modernity" based on science and expert knowledge to slow down, stop and revert the current trends of climate change towards the planet's entropic death, an inquiry is opened on the social imagery of sustainability embodied in traditional peoples, on their capacity to respond from their local cultural identities, mobilizing new social actors and leading to an environmental democracy from the ecological and cultural conditions instituted in the social imagery and the life worlds of the people that inhabit the living planet. ; Este artículo pretende abrir una indagatoria sociológica sobre un tema crucial para los destinos de la humanidad: su capacidad de respuesta ante el riesgo ecológico global. Pasando por una reflexión crítica sobre los alcances de una "modernidad reflexiva" fundada en la ciencia y el conocimiento experto para equilibrar, detener y revertir las tendencias del cambio climático hacia la muerte entrópica del planeta, se abre una indagatoria —tan especulativa como urgente— sobre los imaginarios sociales de la sustentabilidad de los pueblos tradicionales; sobre la posible capacidad de respuesta desde identidades culturales situadas, que pudieran movilizar a nuevos actores sociales y dar curso a una democracia ambiental desde las condiciones ecológico-culturales instituidas en los imaginarios sociales de los mundos de vida de los seres humanos que habitan el planeta vivo.

This paper aims at explaining the importance of the democracy stance as compared to the efficiency stance in order to deal with complexity in biodiversity conservation. While the efficiency stance refers to the realm of relatively simple systems, individual rationality, and instrumental values, the complexity stance transcends these boundaries into the realm of complex systems, social rationality and intrinsic values. We argue that the task of biodiversity conservation is impossible to achieve in economically efficient ways, because (a) it is impossible to come to a (fully informed) complete account of all values, not only because it is costly but also because (b) moral values are involved which (by their nature) exclude themselves from being accounted for, and (c) biodiversity conservation can be regarded as an end in itself instead of only a means towards an end. The point we raise is, that in order to cope with biodiversity conservation we need to apply valuation methods which are from the complexity stance, take better account of intrinsic values and feelings, as well as consider social rationality. Economic valuation methods are themselves 'value articulating institutions' and as biodiversity conservation confronts us with the complexity of social-ecological systems, the choice of the 'value articulating institutions' needs to consider their ability to capture instrumental and intrinsic values of biodiversity. We demonstrate a method, based on cybernetics, which is able to take into account the issues raised.

One of the main features of the contemporary environmental crisis is that no one has a clear idea of what is going on. The author uses an extension of Marx's theory of alienation to explain why people find it so difficult to relate their different knowledges of the natural and social world. He argues that nevertheless it is possible to relate these to the abstractions of ecological discourse. Emancipation can come only through embracing science and rationality rather than rejecting them and, in the process, humanity as well as the non-human world will benefit

The aim of this paper is to provide insights into how implementation of co-management systems can be a way in building trust between authorities and the users of a CPR. It is shown that a new co-management system can be developed and "triggered" by an ecological crisis and that trust and social networks are crucial factors for successful institutional development.The trawl fishery for vendus (Coregonus albula) in the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia, has been top-down regulated by the State. At the beginning of the 1990s, catches started to decrease dramatically. In response to the poor performance of the fishery, a co-management system, with sharing of power and responsibilities between the authorities and the trawl fishermen, was implemented.It is concluded that managing fisheries with unexpected changes and complexity in linked social-ecological systems requires actors who learn from failures and, when necessary, initiate and achieve institutional change. The creation of social-ecological resilience can be looked upon as a process - a socially generated collective good - which is likely to result in better governance systems. In this context, the role of institutions in building adaptive capacity and supporting collective rationality is important. ; Godkänd; 2006; 20070505 (ysko)

POLITICS BY PROVINCE: Goal-oriented rational action or value-oriented rational action in closed debate on the Wadden region and public consultation on the ecological infrastructure General This thesis is a study of political conduct, and of provincial politics in particular. It is based on three research projects. The first two research projects are empirical studies that examine, respectively, the functioning of the discussion platform for government bodies relating to the Wadden Islands area and the relationship between the regional press and provincial political organs. Each of these two projects is based on a defined problem, a theoretical framework, methodology and conclusions. Although both case studies deal with provincial politics, they are completely separate from each other. The third case study is theoretical. It seeks to clarify the rationalization theories of Max Weber and Karl Mannheim, and place the concepts of goaloriented rational action and value-oriented rational action in their theoretical context. This theoretical chapter produces a number of research questions that can be used as a 'rationality grid' to be applied to the two empirical case studies in order to determine what form of action, goal-rational or value-rational, characterizes provincial politics. Chapter One describes the background to the studies and gives a short introduction to the research themes. This chapter also presents a view of contemporary provincial politics and discusses the scientific position from which this thesis has been written, emphasizing the unique role of the sociological vision. How does the government manage the Wadden Sea? The first section examines the way in which the government manages the Wadden Sea. The study is based on an evaluation study of the functioning of the Coördinatiecollege Waddengebied (CCW) in the period 1987 to 1994. The CCW (a platform for administrative consultation between the government, the Wadden provinces and the Wadden municipalities) was set up in 1980 for the purpose of "ensuring coherent administration and an coordinated policy by the government, provinces and municipalities with regard to the Wadden region." The study is based on a bottleneck analysis; in other words, by identifying problems, concrete solutions can be proposed. The evaluation study employed a combination of two popular lines of research in organizational sociology literature – the 'whole-system approach' and the 'parties approach'. In the whole-system approach, shared values or a feeling of solidarity are what unites the organization. In the parties approach, the organization is seen as a coalition of parties with different interests and aims. The parties work together for their own benefit, or because negative sanctions force them to do so. Both approaches are integrated in the 'parties-withina-system' perspective, which focuses on the relationships between the parties and the organization as a whole. This integral approach was used to evaluate the functioning of the CCW because the CCW places great emphasis on shared values and responsibilities, which are the core elements of the whole-system approach. At the same time, however, the CCW is composed of different parties which all have their own tasks, powers and interests – the core elements of the parties approach. This perspective has been tailored to the evaluation of the CCW using the following criteria: shared values, support base, differing interests, power structure, sense of purpose, and success/failure factors. The study is based on qualitative interviews with participants in the CCW platforms, telephone interviews with councillors and members of the States General, dossier analyses and reconstructions from minutes from the CCW consultations on the following cases: enlarging the scope of the Nature Conservation Act; delegation of powers with regard to inspection and control; co-ordination of international activities, problems relating to 'traditional brown shipping'; the review of the Waddenzee II Key Planning Decision, and gas extraction in the Wadden Sea. This treatment of the original research report emphasizes a systematic description of conduct within the context of the administrative co-ordination of the Wadden region, which is usually of a closed nature. The main problem areas are the following:  a lack of shared values due to the fact that the purpose of the Wadden consultation platform is given a different interpretation depending on the interests in question;  by way of preparation for the Wadden consultations, a process of harmonization takes place within the various authorities, thereby creating an administrative support base. However, this process of preliminary consultation and feedback reveals the other side of the bureaucratic coin – this circuit is, administratively and politically speaking, strongly inward-looking;  there are no substantial conflicts of interest between the layers of government. However, mutual suspicion exists with regard to the extent to which other parties are committed to the Wadden policy. Each party suspects that the other parties will ultimately allow economic interests to prevail;  with regard to the delegation of authority, the balance of power between the government and the provinces is seen as unacceptable. The continuous lack of consensus, whether manifest or otherwise, is a barrier to discussion on a equal footing;  there are various problems relating to the sense of purpose, including the role of the Chairman and the lack of a clear definition/delegation of tasks. This analysis shows that the problems are not related to the structure of the Wadden consultative platform but rather to its culture, and more specifically to the participants' perceptions of the role and responsibilities of the platform. In addition, there appears to be a distinct lack of leadership. The main conclusions are as follows:  harmonization within the various Wadden authorities (government, provinces and municipalities) hampers harmonization between the Wadden authorities;  the representatives from the three layers of government do not present the role and purpose of the consultative platform in a consistent and uniform way;  the CCW is hampered in its work by an ongoing debate about how powers are delegated between the layers of government. Because the analysis of success and failure factors revealed that clearly defined relationships between the government authorities are essential for successful consultation, possible solutions aim to create that clarity. Recommendations have been laid down, for example, relating to the role of the Chairman, drawing up the agenda, and clearly defining the tasks of the various bodies. Although, as far back as 1995, the CCW largely acknowledged the problem areas and supported the proposals for improvement, none of the recommendations will actually be implemented before 2001. Politics and the press on the ecological infrastructure in Friesland and Drenthe Section 2 describes a study of the relationship between the regional press and northern provincial politics. The basis for the study is the political decision-making regarding the establishment of the ecological infrastructure in the provinces of Friesland and Drenthe in the period 1989 to 1996. The conclusion of a survey of the relationship between the printed press and parliamentary democracy is that the main function of the press is to provide information, criticism and comment. The role of information-provider is examined on the basis of the following:  actual report of a meeting of the Provincial Councils;  a news report giving information about matters relating to the ecological infrastructure in both provinces;  a background article describing the context, history and/or different interpretations of matters relating to the ecological infrastructure. The role of critic is examined on the basis of the following:  editorial comment;  a column in which one of the editors gives his opinion under his own name;  opinions of third parties, in which a third party, who is not an editor, is given the opportunity to express an opinion. Using four recent examples, it is then argued that the central question relating to the relationship between politics and the press is one of management – who controls political communication or, put another way, is the relationship determined by 'party logic' or by 'media logic'? The study will compare decision-making on the ecological infrastructure (as this was perceived in decision-making meetings of the provincial councils) with reporting by the regional press in both provinces. The decision-making process of the provincial councils was reconstructed for this purpose. The result is not only an analytical reconstruction of the decision-making surrounding the ecological infrastructure in Friesland and Drenthe, but also a chronicle of provincial political customs and morals. A quantitative and qualitative analysis subsequently shows how the regional press fulfils its role as information provider and critic. The quantitative analysis addresses the question of how often the press fulfils its role as information provider and critic with regard to decision-making on the ecological infrastructure. The qualitative analysis addresses the question of how the press fulfils those roles. It is argued that the quality of the information provided is determined by the degree of objectivity, but that the best measure of quality is a clear standpoint. These conclusions were used to formulate an 'ideal' against which the quality of informative and critical articles can be measured. A factual report is as objective as possible when:  it deals not only with the decision itself, but also with the opinion-forming process;  it gives the opinion not only of the representatives of official bodies, but also of opponents or those outside such bodies;  the reporter does not give his own opinion. A news report or background article is as objective as possible when:  it presents more than one perspective and/or quotes more than one authority on the subject. An editorial or column makes a constructive critical contribution when:  the author adopts a clear standpoint;  the context (history, background or current event) of that standpoint is given;  the author describes how the standpoint was reached, and on which information or authorities it is based. Conclusions about the information function:  in almost half of the cases, the regional newspapers do not report on provincial council meetings relating to the ecological infrastructure. The people who live in the province, but fall outside a given environmental or agricultural target group, will not become informed about the ecological infrastructure by reading their local newspaper. Neither will they become informed about the role of the provincial government in this;  in the reports which do deal with meetings of the provincial councils, there is a lack of balance. Generally speaking, no effort is made in such reports to show the full palette of political colours represented in the provincial council;  there is only relatively wide newspaper coverage on occasions when political emotions are running high. Examples are: Friesland in 1993, when an agreement was reached with the agricultural sector, and Drenthe in 1993, when an amended programme of intent for the soil-protection areas was introduced (the agricultural lobby also played an important role in this). This attention from the press can be explained by incident politics. Political groups hold widely different opinions; they make no effort to hide their differences and journalists are keen to pick up on this. Another possible explanation is that, in these cases, ecological policy is heavily influenced by the farming lobby, which itself is strongly supported by influential political groups;  the news reports are usually brief and present an event from only one perspective, without a journalistic contribution from the author. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that press releases sent to the newspapers have been published without any further interpretation;  the most common simple perspective is that which opposes the ecological infrastructure;  there are very few background articles. Background articles that clarify the situation, and outline the problems confronting provincial politicians, are indispensable with regard to a far-reaching and complex plan such as the development of the ecological infrastructure of the two provinces;  it is notable that most of the background articles are only written from one perspective, with very little informative context. On the basis of these findings, it appears that the way in which the regional press fulfils its role as information provider leaves room for improvement. Scant attention is paid to council decision-making and the quality of reporting also leaves something to be desired. Little can be said about how the press fulfils the role as critic because so few articles appear in this context. The question Who controls political communication? cannot therefore be answered because the press pays too little attention to provincial politics. Goal-oriented or value-oriented rationality: which form of rationality determines political action? Section 3 examines which form of rationality (i.e. goal-oriented or value-oriented rationality) occurs most in the closed discussions between government bodies in the Wadden study, or in public discussions on the ecological infrastructure from the study of the relationship between politics and the press. For this purpose the rationalization theories from the work of Weber and Mannheim were used. Both Weber and Mannheim recognise increasing instrumental and formal rationality (Weber) and functional rationality (Mannheim) in all areas of life, and a decrease in material rationality (Weber) and substantial rationality (Mannheim). Weber and Mannheim identify the rise and influence of a specific form of instrumental rationality, particularly within economic, legal and bureaucratic institutions. Within such institutions, actions are characterized by goal-oriented rationality. This means that the prevalent institutional pattern of norms and values that more or less prescribes how people should act within the institutions (role-related behaviour) places great emphasis on goal-rational behaviour. In order to establish whether this also applies in provincial politics and administration, a study was made of the conception of rationality in the work of Weber and Mannheim. The question of whether goal-oriented or value-oriented rationality is dominant is addressed by a secondary analysis of the material. The secondary analysis takes the form of a 'rationality grid' that is applied to the material from the two empirical studies. The grid has a coarsely meshed structure that can separate out goal-oriented and value-oriented rationality. Following the study of Weber and Mannheim's concepts of rationality, goal-oriemted rational action is defined in this study as action that is geared towards finding the most appropriate means to achieve a goal that is considered as given. When action is successful in terms of the defined goal, we speak of goal-oriented rational action and formal rationality. Success or effectiveness is therefore the measure for goal-rational behaviour. The essence of this concept is expressed in the following questions:  is conduct geared towards resources and procedures within the given of administrative co-ordination or within the structured political (provincial) discussions?  are the goals open to discussion? If action is a logical extension of or derives from a higher value or ideal, we speak of 'valueoriented rational action' and 'material rationality'. The extent to which an action is valueoriented is therefore the measure for value-rationality. In this study, value-oriented rational action is defined as action that is based on the assessment of the desirability of a given goal by means of a party-political value system. The essence of the concept, as used in the present context, is expressed in the following question:  is the action geared towards assessing the desirability of a particular goal, based on a political value system? Conclusions: 1. With regard to discussion between government bodies on the subject of the Wadden region, the hypothesis was that, within the sphere of formalised and regulated administrative co-ordination in the Wadden region, actions are largely determined by goal-oriented rationality. The purpose of the discussion platform is, after all, to co-ordinate and realise goals defined elsewhere. The hypothesis is confirmed – the Wadden discussion platform is characterized by goal-oriented rational action. But this type of action is not related to the ultimate goal of the discussion platform but rather to another goal: the increasing of the influence and governance of the government layer in question. 2. With regard to the decision-making on the ecological infrastructure in Friesland and Drenthe, the hypothesis was that political decision-making debates are characterized by the discussion of values to be lived up to and aims to be realised. It is therefore to be expected that such debates are mainly characterized by value-oriented rationality. However, the findings do not confirm this hypothesis. The discussions of the provincial councils of Drenthe and Friesland are certainly not goal-rational in nature, yet neither can they be described as valuerational. Actions are indeed geared towards assessing the desirability of a particular goal, but that assessment is not based on a political value system. It is not party-political principles that determine political conduct; it would be more true to say that conduct is based on notions of consistency in terms of policy and support.

The fishing of vendace (Coregonus albula), in the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia, is a good illustration of the presumption that institutional arrangements which are too inflexible to cope with changing ecological conditions are unlikely to prosper. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the development of a better understanding of governance in a relatively small and clearly defined, but complex common-pool resource system. It also aims at providing insights into how different governance strategies affect individual users' incentives, as well as the adaptive capacity in such systems. Since the beginning of the 1960s, the trawl fishery for vendace has been top-down regulated by the State. At the beginning of the 1990s, catches started to decrease dramatically. This happened despite extensive state regulation and despite the fact that the resource is fairly non-migratory and concentrated in a limited area. In the thesis, the institutional framework that contributed to this crisis is analysed in terms of provision of incentives and the capability to adapt to changing ecological circumstances. It was found that despite deliberate state regulation, the existing governance system worsened the resource crisis. In response to the poor performance of the fishery, a co-management system, with sharing of power and responsibilities between the National Board of Fisheries and the trawl fishermen, was implemented. An extensive survey among trawl fishermen showed that, after three years of co-management, a change in individual behaviour has occurred. The fishermen had, to some extent, redirected their individual catch-maximising strategies towards long-term collective rationality. With regulations implemented through bottom-up, instead of top-down processes, the legitimacy for regulations had also increased considerably. The management system became more adaptive and created users who had the capability to react to changes in the ecosystem. As a result, catches have increased extensively since co-management was implemented. In the thesis, it is demonstrated how and with what mechanisms this change, from top-down to bottom-up approaches in management, has affected the incentives for individual fishermen and, how this has affected collective action and, thus, the long-term ecological survival of the vendace resource. It is concluded that, managing fisheries with unexpected changes and complexity in linked social-ecological systems requires actors (both fishermen and authorities), who learn from failures and, when necessary, initiate and achieve institutional change. The creation of social- ecological resilience can be looked upon as a process – a socially generated collective good – which is likely to result in better governance systems. In this context, the role of institutions in building adaptive capacity and supporting collective rationality is important. ; Godkänd; 2004; 20061026 (haneit)

The aim of this paper is to provide insights into how the implementation of co-management systems can be a way of building trust between authorities and the users of a common-pool resource (CPR). In this paper, it is shown that a new co-management system can be triggered by an ecological crisis, and that trust and social factors are crucial for successful institutional development. This paper also discusses the definition of the concept of 'co-management' and the importance of scale and horizontal/vertical linkages in the management of CPRs. "It is concluded that managing fisheries with unexpected changes and complexity in linked social-ecological systems require actors (both fishermen and authorities) who learn from failures and, when necessary, initiate and achieve institutional change. The creation of social- ecological resilience can be looked upon as a process - a socially-generated collective good - which is likely to result in better governance systems. In this context, the role of institutions in building adaptive capacity and supporting collective rationality is important. To the extent that the conclusions derived from this case study are applicable to society in general, this would indicate that, in order to restore the legitimacy of and trust in policy making and governing institutions in society, more bottom-up processes with user participation and engaged citizens are needed ; Godkänd; 2006; 20090923 (carl_r)

Over the past decade, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have come to be viewed as problematic in Japan, as evidenced by a large number of newspaper articles covering questions ranging from the unknown ecological impact of GMOs to uncertainty about food safety, and by the fact that a number of consumers' groups have organized activities including demonstrations at the experiment stations and the submission of petitions to the government. Against this backdrop, this article attempts to understand the changing interpretation of the perceived rational social order in the context of the Japanese GMO controversies. Drawing on the French Theory of Conventions, the article will shed light on the conventions that serve as templates enabling actors to interpret what it means to introduce GMOs and what constitutes a rational decision concerning GMOs. The article will argue that rationality is best viewed as an emergent and interpretive process involving interpretation and negotiation by and among actors, and that conventions which may be taken for granted are nevertheless unstable and mutable.

Even in an increasingly polarized climate of global policy‐making, the ideal of "sustainable development" retains currency across a remarkably broad swath of the political spectrum in debating alternative scenarios for the future. By adapting Weber's classic categories of value spheres and collective rationality, I distinguish contemporary approaches to operationalizing the concept of sustainability and elucidate the practical implications of each. For some, the social, ecological, and economic dimensions of sustainability are synergistic components of a single meaningful goal, pursued by either an overarching technique or a unifying ethic. In contrast to these unifying models, one may conclude that the dimensions of sustainable development invoke values that inevitably conflict in any complex social interaction to derive strategies for collective action. Framing the concept in such terms, as a dialogue of values, highlights the need to adapt social institutions to mediate value conflict at different scales, and points to opportunities for engaging development debates through applied research on comparative governance.

Explores the potential transition from Marx to eco-socialism. Socialism & political ecology both go beyond instrumental rationality & production as an end in itself to promote a society that no longer reduces the social universe to the accumulation of capital but instead extols an economy embedded in the social & natural environment. Fundamental differences between the Marxists & the ecologists are explored & quotes from Marx & Engels reveal their uncritical attitude toward environmentally destructive aspects of industrial civilization. Although both men occasionally expressed a critical vision of the productive forces, they emphasized the human domination of nature, & did not exhibit an overall ecological perspective. However, ecologists wrongly assume they do not need a Marxist critique of capitalism in spite of evidence that an ecology that fails to recognize the relationship between productivism & the profit motive is bound to fail. The more realistic eco-socialist movement involves a convergence of the greens & the reds in a quest for an eco-socialist economy. Future prospects are discussed. J. Lindroth