Decision making in complex land systems: outline of a holistic theory of agency

Context Models of human agency within research on land systems and landscapes do not fully account for social and cultural factors in decision making. Conversely, within social theory, parallel concepts of agency do not fully take biophysical and spatial factors into account. This calls for a synthe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Landscape ecology 2024-03, Vol.39 (3), p.72, Article 72
Main Authors: Christensen, Andreas Aagaard, Van Eetvelde, Veerle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
Agriculture
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Decision analysis
Decision making
Decision theory
Ecology
Environmental Management
Farmers
Human agency
Landscape Ecology
Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning
Life Sciences
Nature Conservation
Research Article
Reviews
Sustainable Development
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Summary:Context Models of human agency within research on land systems and landscapes do not fully account for social and cultural factors in decision making. Conversely, within social theory, parallel concepts of agency do not fully take biophysical and spatial factors into account. This calls for a synthesis of conceptual models addressing human decision making in land systems. Objectives The review identifies parallels between social and ecological perspectives on humans as co-constituent parts of complex land systems. On this basis selected models of agency combining insights from social theory and land systems research are outlined and compared, and improved concepts are outlined. Methods Elements of agency in modern agricultural land systems are reviewed. A case study illustrating the application of agency concepts in an analysis of decision making among farmers on the Canterbury Plains (New Zealand) is presented. On this basis it is discussed how to improve understandings of human agency in land systems. Results The review identifies and compares parallel conceptions of agency, practice and holism in landscape ecology and social theory. Taking the agency of farmers in contemporary agricultural landscapes as an example, theories currently used to characterise and interpret the agency of farmers are discussed and improvements considered. Potentials for improvement of current conceptual models are indicated and discussed, and an improved model of agency is suggested. Conclusions Based on the review, the article presents an improved conceptual model of agency in land systems emphasizing the position of agents in social-ecological contexts of action.
ISSN:1572-9761
0921-2973
1572-9761
DOI:10.1007/s10980-024-01822-2