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1. Materials and Methods
1.1. MACTOR concept
It is only natural to have conflicts of use of maritime and coastal space as long as the actors, and
their respective objectives, and attributions overlap. In this matter, studies have shown that the
strategic analysis of an actor‟s game is a crucial step to the foresight of resolving conflicts
between groups who have different projects, and visions of maritime space, and its resources,
which strongly conditions the evolution of the studied system. In this context, we have used an
open-source software called MACTOR 5.1.2 which was designed to conduct a mapping of actors
regarding a specific issue according to their objectives, level of power, influence…etc. The
MACTOR method (Méthode ACTeurs, Objectifs, Rapports de force) offers an analysis of the
game of actors as well as tools that can grasp the power, and complexity of information to use,
all of this providing the analyst with intermediary results which shed light on specific
dimensions of the problem (MACTOR help). Although MACTOR was originally developed for
enterprise management issues, multiple studies on other topics were conducted, where the
software was found to be very useful. In our case, we projected this method on environmental
issues, more precisely, the analysis of the Algerian MSP process regarding the future MCPA of
the Edough Mounts. The aim of this chapter is to highlight, and understand conflicts of use of the
maritime and coastal space in this area, especially those related to the establishment of this
MCPA.
The applied methodology is structured around several components, which are described here as
five distinct stages. The first stage seeks to identify the different dimensions of the problematic,
such as the actors involved, and their objectives as they engage in the issue. The second stage
involves analysing, and describing the strategies identified in two ways:
- Identifying the direct influences exerted by the actors on each other ("actors/actors"
matrix),
- Describing, and measuring the position of each actor in relation to each objective
("actors/objectives" matrix).
This second stage is conducted according to experts‟ opinion on the matter. In the third stage, the
two matrices are input into the MACTOR software for processing. The result helps us provide a
more detailed picture of the relative positions of all the actors (dominant or dominated by
others), to identify the objectives for which they feel the most concern, those which are
controversial or not, and to highlight the diverging, and converging interests reflected in the
various positions. The fourth stage is the interpretation of results generated by the software in the
form of complex reports. These reports contain multiple statistical analysis parameters.
However, the ones we found to be most expressive and informant regarding our problem are:
Influence &
dependence
(I i & D i )
Net scale of
influence
(NS)
Competitiveness (R i )
Ambivalence
(EQ 3 )
Implication
Convergence &
divergence
1MAO
2MAO
3MAO
Net distance between
actors
Net distance
between objectives
Actor/
objective
relationship
1. Materials and Methods
1.1. MACTOR concept
It is only natural to have conflicts of use of maritime and coastal space as long as the actors, and
their respective objectives, and attributions overlap. In this matter, studies have shown that the
strategic analysis of an actor‟s game is a crucial step to the foresight of resolving conflicts
between groups who have different projects, and visions of maritime space, and its resources,
which strongly conditions the evolution of the studied system. In this context, we have used an
open-source software called MACTOR 5.1.2 which was designed to conduct a mapping of actors
regarding a specific issue according to their objectives, level of power, influence…etc. The
MACTOR method (Méthode ACTeurs, Objectifs, Rapports de force) offers an analysis of the
game of actors as well as tools that can grasp the power, and complexity of information to use,
all of this providing the analyst with intermediary results which shed light on specific
dimensions of the problem (MACTOR help). Although MACTOR was originally developed for
enterprise management issues, multiple studies on other topics were conducted, where the
software was found to be very useful. In our case, we projected this method on environmental
issues, more precisely, the analysis of the Algerian MSP process regarding the future MCPA of
the Edough Mounts. The aim of this chapter is to highlight, and understand conflicts of use of the
maritime and coastal space in this area, especially those related to the establishment of this
MCPA.
The applied methodology is structured around several components, which are described here as
five distinct stages. The first stage seeks to identify the different dimensions of the problematic,
such as the actors involved, and their objectives as they engage in the issue. The second stage
involves analysing, and describing the strategies identified in two ways:
- Identifying the direct influences exerted by the actors on each other ("actors/actors"
matrix),
- Describing, and measuring the position of each actor in relation to each objective
("actors/objectives" matrix).
This second stage is conducted according to experts‟ opinion on the matter. In the third stage, the
two matrices are input into the MACTOR software for processing. The result helps us provide a
more detailed picture of the relative positions of all the actors (dominant or dominated by
others), to identify the objectives for which they feel the most concern, those which are
controversial or not, and to highlight the diverging, and converging interests reflected in the
various positions. The fourth stage is the interpretation of results generated by the software in the
form of complex reports. These reports contain multiple statistical analysis parameters.
However, the ones we found to be most expressive and informant regarding our problem are:
Influence &
dependence
(I i & D i )
Net scale of
influence
(NS)
Competitiveness (R i )
Ambivalence
(EQ 3 )
Implication
Convergence &
divergence
1MAO
2MAO
3MAO
Net distance between
actors
Net distance
between objectives
Actor/
objective
relationship