1270 | 847 | “Us versus Them” Mentalities in Co-managing a Natura 2000 Forest: Narratives, Identities and a Culture of Conflict

Multi-stakeholder co-management is no blueprint for effective environmental policy implementation. Combining the analysis of narratives, identities and relational structure through means of social network analysis builds the conceptual and methodological foundation in this case study to explore social dynamics between actors involved in co-managing a Natura 2000 forest. Two opposing narratives are identified competing over power and competency in discussions about the management plans for the Natura 2000 forest. Negative identity constructions and antagonizing with other actors fuels an “Us versus Them” dynamic among the actors in the co-management process and over time, a culture of conflict has become institutionalized. Interactions between the actors from the case study seemingly build on a complex, iterative pattern of disputes that is barely breakable and reversible into cooperative attitudes. Interestingly, this culture of conflict does not resonate with the relational structure between actors in the case study as the social network analysis shows. The case represents an intriguing puzzle pointing to an incongruence between structural and mental mechanisms underlying social dynamics in actor collaborations. Co-management can be a tangible approach to generate social bonds in contested policy implementation processes. Although some collaborative arrangements seem to be shaken by intractable conflicts, these results render hope and are discussed in light of conflict resolution strategies and power dynamics.

Larissa Koch
Leibniz Center for Aricultural Landscape Research

ID Abstract: 847

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