Understanding the role of public belief systems in perceptions of bio-physical, socioeconomic and cultural-spiritual vulnerabilities through the use of an emergent analytical framework

Abstract

The social processes embedded within the ‘thinking’ and ‘doing’ of humans in relation to the use of common property resources such as the natural environment has been proven to be essential for both a holistic understanding as well as mutually agreeable solutions. In keeping with this trend, this paper explores how one may better understand the role of public beliefs systems in perceptions of bio-physical, socio-economic and cultural-spiritual vulnerabilities through the use of an emergent analytical framework. Conceptually public beliefs systems is a complex issue as it deals with a variety of factors such as for example different ways of attributing value and meaning, competing sources and producers of knowledge, and emergent questions regarding issues of truth in relation to beliefs that are particularly entrenched (be it within a community or an individual). Taking this complexity in to consideration and combining it with four different LiveDiverse* case study areas (South Africa, India, Vietnam and Costa Rica), the task becomes almost insurmountable. What this paper proposes is that through the use of an emergent analytical framework one can come up with an approach to do this research in a way that not only produces relevant results but also allows for the inclusion of different voices at multiple levels in order to find the common ground required for a collective understanding of issues such as poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihoods and the sustainable use of our natural resources.