What can methods for assessing worldviews and broad values tell us about socio-environmental conflicts?

Abstract

Socio-environmental conflicts are manifestations of disputes regarding nature or disagreements over the distribution of costs and benefits resulting from nature's transformation induced by human activities. These conflicts often result from divergent worldviews and broad values, which shape the way people interact with and value nature in a profound way. Interestingly, even though they are well-known in their fields, methods for assessing worldviews and broad values are not used as often when addressing sustainability challenges as they should be. By exploring the literature on worldviews and broad value assessment, this review identifies four alternative methods — consensus analysis, ethical analysis, framing analysis, and worldview assessment — that can facilitate dialog in socio-environmental conflict settings. It highlights the usefulness and potential of these methods as a value-centered leverage for transformative change.