Mastery over nature as a paradox: societally implemented but individually rejected

Andreas Muhar and Kerstin Böck

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2018, vol. 61, issue 5-6, 994-1010

Abstract: In contrast to the reality of global industrialisation, research on individual understandings of the human–nature relationship shows low acceptance of the concept of human Mastery over nature. In qualitative interviews (n = 25) we investigated how actors from river landscape management in Austria perceive this paradox. Results indicate that actors who in their professional life act in the sense of Mastery over nature often interpret their role as Stewardship. Other reasons were seen in discrepancies between (1) private and the professional life, (2) people's vision and reality, and (3) self-reflection and reflection through others. Also social desirability bias and insufficient wording of narratives can affect results significantly. We suggest further exploration of influencing drivers in such surveys and development of tools for group-based reflection of human–nature relationships within planning and governance processes.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2017.1334633

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