Title

Managing the environmental legitimation crisis

Authors

Authors

B. K. Marshall;W. S. Goldstein

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Organ. Environ.

Keywords

systems theory; second contradiction of capitalism; environmental; crisis; natural resource management; legitimation crisis; citizen; participation; CITIZEN PARTICIPATION; PUBLIC-PARTICIPATION; TRUST; RISK; PERCEPTIONS; OPPOSITION; QUESTION; Environmental Studies; Management

Abstract

The authors discuss and extend the crisis theory of Habermas and Offe by adding and arguing for the semiautonomy of a fourth system-the ecological system. Based on Habermas's crisis systems theory and J. O'Connor's fiscal crisis-of-the-state thesis, they develop a crisis systems model (CSM) applicable to late capitalist societies. Within the framework of the CSM, they outline the three crises identified in earlier research-accumulation crisis of overproduction, accumulation crisis of underproduction, and social welfare legitimation-and argue for the relevance of a fourth crisis-the environmental legitimation crisis. They assess the empirical import of the CSM and the cogency of the environmental legitimation crisis by examining the evolving role of citizen participation in natural resource management in the United States. The authors conclude that the democratization of environmental decision making is, in part, an adaptive response by natural resources agencies to avoid an environmental legitimation crisis.

Journal Title

Organization & Environment

Volume

19

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2006

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

214

Last Page

232

WOS Identifier

WOS:000240628700004

ISSN

1086-0266

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