The environment as a common good in the time of globalization: its conceptualization and social perception (original) (raw)

2003, Commons: Old and New. …

It is usual to consider lhe environment as a common good, but we are far from having a clear definition of either of lhem: lhe environment and lhe common. Bolh vary according lhe scope of lhe analysis (world, national, regional, provincial, local), lhe different societies, and the diverse elements included, and so vary the social perception and action on the environment. On the other hand, new and increasing demands from lhe environment as a common good, as it is the case of preserving biodiversity or landscape among others) might clash with traditional commons. Societies face now a challenge to compatibilize traditional cornmons and the new common: the environment. In arder to study lhe idea of the environment as the new common is relevant to pay attention to legal conceptions and issues related with property rights. A conceptual and historical clarification of the sense and meaning of common is required. In lhis paper lhe conceptual problematic of lhe term common for the case of the environment is analyzed, and lhe change in its social perception within the process of industrialization and globalization. A case study of Navarre (Spain) show how peapie conceive Nature in terms of common good. The environment as a cornrnon good Nowadays, when we lhink of the environment clearly it includes elements such as trees, air, water. .. and lhe surrounding physical constituents where we live. But al! lhese "physical" phenomena have their social definitions, as resources (economic, recreation, preservation...), as legal space (establishing norms in the politicaJ arena .. .), as a space for social organization, as a psychological space (where work, pleasure of learning takes place), among others. All lhese definitions are going to confer on the environment a sociohistorical value. Thus, the environment is composed by both the physical and the social means, in their interrelations, including the complete relation of the external, physical and biological conditions where an organism lives. On the other hand, the mainstream way of dealing with the environmental problems lhat of is trying to achieve compatibility between human needs and those of lhe natural environment. In arder to reach this goal, it is necessary to take into account both natural and social systems in lheir interrelation, in an integrated way. On lhe other hand, it might seem lhat defining lhe environment as a common good goes wilhout saying. Nevertheless, it is necessary to lhink deeper about this issue to find out if common is an inherent characteristic of the concept 'environment' or a social construction that becomes evident during the time of globalization. Our interest here more than establishing whether the environment is a new common (universal) pertains to focusing in on lhis phenomenon looking at lhe various ways it is perceived. Of the various factors impacting lhis perception are most importantly the social distribution of knowledge and lhe institutionalization of certain meanings, for which it is necessary to rely on judicial typology as a source of interpretation. The meaning of common changes as well depending on the physical context, such as local, national, global, and on the different elements involved, such as history, tradition, and law.