Think Global, Act Local

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511804434.010

9 - Think Global, Act Local

Scalar Challenges to Sustainable Development of Marine Environments

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012

Elaine Stratford

Edited by

Robert White

Show author details

Elaine Stratford: Affiliation:
University of Tasmania
Robert White: Affiliation:
University of Tasmania

Book contents

Get access

Summary

Among the social sciences, long-standing debates continue about the effects of economic globalisation. Part of that discussion is about the principles and practices by which to be modern and exhibit stewardship over economic, social and environmental well-being. Often ‘sustainability’ describes the principles of such care, and ‘sustainable development’ denotes the practices by which these are enacted.

Debating the worth and consequences of economic globalisation involves asking to what extent the state is best placed to address the challenges of modern life. This question informs concerns about democracy and citizenship. Supra-statists advocate investing more power in structures and processes of global governance and government, suggesting more centralising and authoritarian strategies for ‘the greater good’. Sub-statists are equally committed to devolving power to sub-national systems of decision-making that privilege the local (Wapner 1995). Advocates of both positions attribute to existing state systems the vast majority of environmental woes, calling for the reorganisation of political life and the transference of power up or down spatial scales.

Differences between supra-statists and sub-statists bring into sharp relief questions about the scale at which sustainable development is best deployed. The catch-cry think global, act local captures this uncertainty, suggesting that economic, social and environmental problems are trans-boundary, and the need to engage and empower via democratic and civic rights and responsibilities for sustainable development. Nowhere are such issues better etched than in relation to archetypal trans-boundary domains, the global commons, including the marine environment.

Type: Chapter
Information: Controversies in Environmental Sociology , pp. 150 - 167

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511804434.010 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Armstrong, D., and E. Stratford (in review), ‘Partnerships for local sustainability and local governance in a Tasmanian settlement’, Local Environment

Bixler, H. J. 1996, ‘Recent developments in manufacturing and marketing carrageenan’, Hydrobiologia 326–327: 35–57CrossRef Google Scholar

Burges Watson, D., and E. Stratford (in preparation), ‘Engendering microbicides: the risky geopolitics of Carraguard TM and HIV/AIDS prevention.’

Buttel, F. H. 2003, ‘Environmental sociology and the explanation of environmental reform’, Organization and Environment 16(3): 306–44CrossRef Google Scholar

Cole, H. 2003, ‘Contemporary challenges: globalisation, global interconnectedness and that “there are not plenty more fish in the sea”. Fisheries, governance and globalisation: is there a relationship?’ Ocean and Coastal Management 46: 77–102CrossRef Google Scholar

Costanza, R. 1999, ‘The ecological, economic, and social importance of the oceans’, Ecological Economics 39(2): 199–213CrossRef Google Scholar

Crowley, K. 1999, ‘Explaining environmental policy: challenges, constraints and capacity’. In K. J. Walker and K. Crowley, Australian Environmental Policy 2: Studies in decline and devolution, Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, pp. 45–64

Davidson, J. 2000, ‘Sustainable development: business as usual or a new way of living?’ Environmental Ethics 22(1): 25–42CrossRef Google Scholar

Doyle, T. 1998, ‘Sustainable development and Agenda 21: the secular bible of global free markets and pluralist democracy’, Third World Quarterly 19(4): 771–86CrossRef Google Scholar

Eagle, J., and Barton, H. T. J. 2003, ‘Answering Lord Perry's question: dissecting regulatory overfishing’, Ocean and Coastal Management 46: 649–79CrossRef Google Scholar

Ecological Internet Incorporated 2004, Eco-Portal: The Environmental Sustainability Info Source, Ecological Internet Incorporated. http://www.eco-portal.com/Ocean/Organizations/Campaigns/welcome.asp

Fallon, L. D., and E. Stratford 2003, Issues of Sustainability in the Southern Oceans Fisheries: The case of the Patagonian toothfish, Hamburg: Lighthouse Foundation and the University of Tasmania

Foster, E. G., and Haward, M. 2003, ‘Integrated management councils: a conceptual model for ocean policy conflict management in Australia’, Ocean and Coastal Management 46: 547–63CrossRef Google Scholar

Friedheim, R. L. 1999, ‘A proper order for the oceans: an agenda for the new century’. In D. Vidas and W. Ostreng, Order for the Oceans at the Turn of the Century, The Hague/London/Boston: Kluwer Law International, pp. 537–57

Future Harvest 2003, ‘Global demand for fish rising: fish farming is the fastest growing field of agriculture’, Future Harvest. http://www.futureharvest.org/earth/fish.html

Gamble, D. N., and Weil, M. O. 1997, ‘Sustainable development: the challenge for community development’, Community Development Journal 32(3): 210–22CrossRef Google Scholar

Ghina, F. 2003, ‘Sustainable development in small island developing states’, Environment, Development and Sustainability 5(1–2): 139–65CrossRef Google Scholar

Gibbs, D., and Jonas, A. E. G. 2000, ‘Governance and regulation in local environmental policy: the utility of a regime approach’, Geoforum 31(3): 299–313CrossRef Google Scholar

Global Campaign for Microbicides 2003, Global Campaign for Microbicides. http://www.global-campaign.org/

Global Environment Facility 2001, Global Environment Facility Global Action on Water: A decade of managing transboundary waters, Washington DC: Global Environment Facility

Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands 2003, Pre-Conference and Conference Programme. http://www.globaloceans.org/globalconference/about.html#purposes

Halfara, J., and Fujitab, R. M. 2002, ‘Precautionary management of deep-sea mining’, Marine Policy 26: 103–6CrossRef Google Scholar

Hart, M. 1999, Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Andover MA: Hart Environmental Data

Howitt, R. 2002, ‘Scale and the other: Levinas and geography’, Geoforum 33: 299–303CrossRef Google Scholar

Huber, M. E., Duce, R. A., Bewers, J. M., Insull, D., Ljubomir, J. and Keckes, S. 2003, ‘Priority problems facing the global marine and coastal environment and recommended approaches to their solution’, Ocean and Coastal Management 46: 479–85CrossRef Google Scholar

Jones, A. T., and Morgan, C. L. 2003, ‘Code of practice for ocean mining: an international effort to develop a code for environmental management of marine mining’, Marine Georesources and Geotechnology 21(2): 105–14CrossRef Google Scholar

Joost, D. G., A. Burton-James and G. Cambers 2002, ‘Wise Practices for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Small Islands’. Results of a Workshop on Furthering Coast Stewardship in Small Islands, Dominica, 4–6 July 2001. Coastal Region and Small Island Paper 11. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Kullenberg, G. 2002, ‘Regional co-development and security: a comprehensive approach’, Ocean and Coastal Management 45: 761–76CrossRef Google Scholar

Kupke, V. 1996, ‘Local Agenda 21: local councils managing for the future’, Urban Policy and Research 14(3): 183–98CrossRef Google Scholar

Lindeboom, H. 2002, ‘The coastal zone: an ecosystem under pressure’. In J. G. Field, G. Hempel and C. P. Summerhayes, Oceans 2020: Science, trends and the challenge of sustainability, Washington DC: Island Press, pp. 49–84

Machlis, G. E., Force, J. E. and Burch, W. R. 1997, ‘The human ecosystem Part I: the human ecosystem as an organizing concept in ecosystem management’, Society and Natural Resources 10: 347–67CrossRef Google Scholar

McConnell, M. 2002, ‘Capacity building for a sustainable shipping industry: a key ingredient in improving coastal and ocean and management’, Ocean and Coastal Management 45(9): 617–32CrossRef Google Scholar

McLaren, D. 2001, Guest Editorial. ‘From Seattle to Johannesburg: “anti-globalisation” or “inter-localism”?’ Local Environment 6(4): 389–91CrossRef Google Scholar

Mitchell, C. L., and Hinds, L. O. 1999, ‘Small island developing states and sustainable development of ocean resources’, Natural Resources Forum 23(3): 235–44CrossRef Google Scholar

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration 2004, ‘White Water to Blue Water Initiative: A partnership to Link Freshwater and Oceans’. http://www.international.noaa.gov/ww2bw/

NetCoast 2001, ‘A Guide to Integrated Coastal Zone Management, NetCoast Netherlands’. http://www.netcoast.nl/info/coast.htm

Nichols, K. 1999, ‘Coming to terms with integrated coastal management: problems of meaning and method in a new arena of resource regulation’, Professional Geographer 51(3): 388–99CrossRef Google Scholar

Pallis, M. 2002, ‘Obligations of states towards asylum seekers at sea: interactions and conflicts between legal regimes’, International Journal of Refugee Law 14(2–3): 329–64CrossRef Google Scholar

Pelling, M., and Uitto, J. I. 2001, ‘Small island developing states: natural disaster vulnerability and global change’, Global Environmental Change Part B: Environmental Hazards 3(2): 49–62CrossRef Google Scholar

Pirtle, C. E. 2000, ‘Military Uses of Ocean Space and the Law of the Sea in the New Millennium’, Ocean Development and International Law 31(1): 7–45CrossRef Google Scholar

Population Council 2003, ‘HIV/AIDS Microbicides’. http://www.popcouncil.org/hivaids/microbicides.html

Pretty, J., and B. R. Frank 2000, Participation and Social Capital Formation in Natural Resource Management: Achievements and lessons, International Landcare Conference: ‘Changing Landscapes – Shaping Futures’, Melbourne

Schlosberg, D., and Dryzek, J. S. 2002, ‘Political strategies of American environmentalism: inclusion and beyond’, Society and Natural Resources 15: 787–804CrossRef Google Scholar

Schnaiberg, A. 1980, The Environment: From surplus to scarcity, New York: Oxford University Press

Smith, H. D. 2003, Editorial, ‘Emerging issues in oceans, coasts and islands’, Marine Policy 27: 289–90CrossRef Google Scholar

Starr, A., and Adams, J. 2003, ‘Anti-globalization: the global fight for local autonomy’, New Political Science 25(1): 19–42CrossRef Google Scholar

Stratford, E., and Davidson, J. 2002, ‘Capital assets and intercultural borderlands: socio-cultural challenges for natural resource management’, Journal of Environmental Management 66: 429–40CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Summerhayes, C. P., J. G. Field and G. Hempel 2002, Introduction. In J. G. Field, G. Hempel and C. P. Summerhayes (eds), Oceans 2020: Science, trends and the challenge of sustainability, Washington DC: Island Press, pp. 1–8

Trist, C. 1999, ‘Recreating ocean space: recreational consumption and representation of the Caribbean marine environment’, The Professional Geographer 51(3): 376–87CrossRef Google Scholar

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2002, The MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory, Australia – Macquarie Island. http://www2.unesco.org/mab/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&Code=AUL+03

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2003, Man and the Biosphere Program, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. www.unesco.org/mab/

United Nations 1992a, Agenda 21, UN Conference on Environment and Development

United Nations 1992b, Agenda 21, Chapter 17, ‘Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources’, Rio de Janeiro: UN

United Nations 2002, World Summit on Sustainable Development Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/

Vanderzwaag, D. 2002, ‘The precautionary principle and marine environmental protection: slippery shores, rough seas, and rising normative tides’, Ocean Development and International Law 33(2): 188–212CrossRef Google Scholar

Wapner, P. 1995, ‘The state and environmental challenges: a critical exploration of alternatives to the state-system’, Environmental Politics 4(1): 44–69CrossRef Google Scholar

Wells, P. G., Duce, R. A. and Huber, M. E. 2002, ‘Recent development. Caring for the sea – accomplishments, activities and future of the United Nations GESAMP (the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection)’, Ocean and Coastal Management 45: 77–89CrossRef Google Scholar

Women's Global Health Imperative 2003, ‘AIDS has a woman's face: gender and power: new strategies for HIV prevention’. http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu

WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development) 1987, Our Common Future, Melbourne: Oxford University Press