Managing the environmental legitimation crisis

    Authors

    B. K. Marshall;W. S. Goldstein

    Comments

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    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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