From Power and Privilege to Dignity and Respect: Developing a Theory of Species Stratification and Interspecies Dominance

Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill,Paul Oder

doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.553460

Abstract

Traditional conservation scientists approach conservation conflict from a resource-management perspective, in which both wildlife and non-living natural resources are managed to balance the interests of competing human stakeholders. We instead consider conflict between the powerful and less powerful humans and wildlife alike. Applying tenets of dominance theory to ecological networks, we propose that socio-political power structures that marginalize human populations – denying voice and inclusion – may align with similar neglect of wildlife species. Considering nonhuman species as collections of agentic beings seeking to satisfy their own survival interests and that of their respective social group, we connect the subjects of justice and ecological justice through common challenges rooted in the psychology of power.

Highlights

Theories provide frameworks for understanding complex phenomena, crucial for organizing overarching, coherent conceptualizations of the natural and social world
Theory is especially important as causal chains of human behavior are largely composed of hard-to-measure or unobservable factors requiring a system of assumptions to “fill in the blanks.”
We propose that applications of social dominance theory to the conservation context holds promise for new perspectives on conservation issues

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Theories provide frameworks for understanding complex phenomena, crucial for organizing overarching, coherent conceptualizations of the natural and social world. Theory is especially important as causal chains of human behavior are largely composed of hard-to-measure or unobservable factors requiring a system of assumptions to “fill in the blanks.”. One way to develop theory is through theory borrowing, the “importation of coherent and fully formed ideas that explain a phenomenon. As conservation sciences increasingly prioritize human dimensions, social sciences provide sources from which to borrow and build a more comprehensive “conservation social science” (Bennett et al, 2017a). Social scientists have already enriched understandings of the human dimensions of conservation. In a review of conservation social science, Bennett et al (2017b) note a need to more critically examine underlying assumptions about conservation behavior. Sociologist Austin Turk (1966) suggests that conflict relations exist wherever “moves by either (party) open up or block off possible moves” by another toward a more favorable position (p. 343)

Theories of Interspecies Dominance

APPLICATIONS OF SIT AND SDT TO HWC

Findings

FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND CONCLUSION