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1.5 Fifth Synthesis: Realism and Social Constructivism
‘Realism’ and ‘constructivism’ are two main theories of science that often are considered to be incompatible. In its purest form, realism involves a belief that scientists can describe reality independently of their own norms and values. This is the
approach mostly followed in natural science as well as in quantitative, or positivist,
forms of social science.
On the other side, constructivism implies a view that reality, or rather how we
understand reality, is ‘constructed’ by people who observe and think about it. In
this perspective, there are several parallel views of reality, and in the more sterling
versions of constructivism, all views (or discourses) are considered equally valid.
Note that some scholars use the term ‘constructivism’, while others write ‘constructionism’. Moreover, the word ‘social’ is often added in the front to emphasize
that the constructions are made by contributions of many people; they are in other
words social products.
Research rooted in realism focuses on natural or social phenomena, while
research based on constructivism is concerned with different views and claims
about these phenomena. Political ecology studies of environmental governance often focus on practices and consequences of practices – in nature and
for people.
In environmental studies, there is often a main division between research based
on realism and constructivism. While constructivists focus on social constructions
(i.e. common or competing perceptions of an environmental problem), realists are
concerned with studying the problem in its various aspects without dealing with its
social constructions. In many political ecology studies, however, scholars try to
bridge these two approaches by linking empirical investigations of a phenomenon
with social constructions of it.
This middle-position is called ‘critical realism’ (Forsyth 2003; Neumann 2005)
or ‘soft constructionism’ (Robbins 2020a). It recognizes that there are many aspects
of reality independent of our knowledge. This approach accepts that there are difThe Na’vi can be considered as an
actor group, but it is also possible to
identify various actors within this community. For example, there are different
clans that oppose each other, until Jake
comes and unites them in a common
struggle against the external enemy
(which has made some see the movie as
an example of white saviourism). Furthermore, this is a hierarchical society,
where the clan’s leadership is inherited.
The Nature Goddess Eywa is also an
actor, who contributes vitally to what is
happening on Pandora. So, nature is an
actor too, as in Science and Technology
Studies (STS) that have also influenced
parts of political ecology (Robbins
2007; Goldman et al. 2011). Jake Sully
moves back and forth between the
mining colony’s and the Na’vi’s quite
different sets of structures, before he
eventually chooses sides and fights
against the mining colony together with
the Na’vi.
1.5 · Fifth Synthesis: Realism and Social Constructivism
1
1.5 Fifth Synthesis: Realism and Social Constructivism
‘Realism’ and ‘constructivism’ are two main theories of science that often are considered to be incompatible. In its purest form, realism involves a belief that scientists can describe reality independently of their own norms and values. This is the
approach mostly followed in natural science as well as in quantitative, or positivist,
forms of social science.
On the other side, constructivism implies a view that reality, or rather how we
understand reality, is ‘constructed’ by people who observe and think about it. In
this perspective, there are several parallel views of reality, and in the more sterling
versions of constructivism, all views (or discourses) are considered equally valid.
Note that some scholars use the term ‘constructivism’, while others write ‘constructionism’. Moreover, the word ‘social’ is often added in the front to emphasize
that the constructions are made by contributions of many people; they are in other
words social products.
Research rooted in realism focuses on natural or social phenomena, while
research based on constructivism is concerned with different views and claims
about these phenomena. Political ecology studies of environmental governance often focus on practices and consequences of practices – in nature and
for people.
In environmental studies, there is often a main division between research based
on realism and constructivism. While constructivists focus on social constructions
(i.e. common or competing perceptions of an environmental problem), realists are
concerned with studying the problem in its various aspects without dealing with its
social constructions. In many political ecology studies, however, scholars try to
bridge these two approaches by linking empirical investigations of a phenomenon
with social constructions of it.
This middle-position is called ‘critical realism’ (Forsyth 2003; Neumann 2005)
or ‘soft constructionism’ (Robbins 2020a). It recognizes that there are many aspects
of reality independent of our knowledge. This approach accepts that there are difThe Na’vi can be considered as an
actor group, but it is also possible to
identify various actors within this community. For example, there are different
clans that oppose each other, until Jake
comes and unites them in a common
struggle against the external enemy
(which has made some see the movie as
an example of white saviourism). Furthermore, this is a hierarchical society,
where the clan’s leadership is inherited.
The Nature Goddess Eywa is also an
actor, who contributes vitally to what is
happening on Pandora. So, nature is an
actor too, as in Science and Technology
Studies (STS) that have also influenced
parts of political ecology (Robbins
2007; Goldman et al. 2011). Jake Sully
moves back and forth between the
mining colony’s and the Na’vi’s quite
different sets of structures, before he
eventually chooses sides and fights
against the mining colony together with
the Na’vi.
1.5 · Fifth Synthesis: Realism and Social Constructivism