37
2
Methods
Land managers in chains of explanation can typically be smallholders. One may
study how land and natural resources are used in practice by smallholders and ask
what the reasons are for them using the resources in a particular way. And what are
the social, economic and political conditions or forces that influence this land-use?
These conditions can be found at various levels from the local to the global.
. Figure 2.1 contains the main elements of a chain of explanations in a specific case. The direction of the arrows illustrates the stepwise process followed in
such a study. Relations of power may, however, largely go in the opposite direction.
But, chains of explanations may also be seen as rigid hierarchies of power, and in
practice, power may move in different directions in what may be a web of relations
rather than a chain (Rocheleau 2008). Nevertheless, having local sites as points of
departure has often proven to be useful for identifying how various actors and
processes influence and shape power relations through interaction between local
and distant spaces across scales. . Figure 2.2 gives an example of a web of relations to explain why elephants are killed by local people in West Kilimanjaro in
Tanzania as a result of several factors working together (extension of protected
areas, marginalization and dispossession of local people, growth of elephant populations, drought).
The world economy and international relations
State policies and laws
Local social organization
Local land use practices
Changes in environmental and natural resources
. Fig. 2.1 The main elements
in a chain of explanations.
(Source: Created by the authors
and inspired by Blaikie and
Brookfield (1987))
2.2 · Human Ecology and Cultural Ecology
2
Methods
Land managers in chains of explanation can typically be smallholders. One may
study how land and natural resources are used in practice by smallholders and ask
what the reasons are for them using the resources in a particular way. And what are
the social, economic and political conditions or forces that influence this land-use?
These conditions can be found at various levels from the local to the global.
. Figure 2.1 contains the main elements of a chain of explanations in a specific case. The direction of the arrows illustrates the stepwise process followed in
such a study. Relations of power may, however, largely go in the opposite direction.
But, chains of explanations may also be seen as rigid hierarchies of power, and in
practice, power may move in different directions in what may be a web of relations
rather than a chain (Rocheleau 2008). Nevertheless, having local sites as points of
departure has often proven to be useful for identifying how various actors and
processes influence and shape power relations through interaction between local
and distant spaces across scales. . Figure 2.2 gives an example of a web of relations to explain why elephants are killed by local people in West Kilimanjaro in
Tanzania as a result of several factors working together (extension of protected
areas, marginalization and dispossession of local people, growth of elephant populations, drought).
The world economy and international relations
State policies and laws
Local social organization
Local land use practices
Changes in environmental and natural resources
. Fig. 2.1 The main elements
in a chain of explanations.
(Source: Created by the authors
and inspired by Blaikie and
Brookfield (1987))
2.2 · Human Ecology and Cultural Ecology