Activity 4.2: Environmental Policy Framework

 

Bryan, T. (2003).  Context in environmental conflicts	Davis, C. B., & Lewicki, R. J. (2003). Environmental conflict resolution	Donald A. Schon and Martin Rein (1994) Frame Reflection: Toward the Resolution of Intractable Policy Controversies
	Identity Addresses, "Who am I?"  Relation or comparison to social categories Questions beliefs and values
Political Consists of characteristics of the political processes and institutions in a society
Demographic Contains characteristics of the population such as age, gender, race, religion and ethnic categories Technological Characterized by the general level of knowledge and capability of science, engineering, medicine, and other substantive areas	Fact Finding Show how to seek and accept information based on how non-expert stakeholders frame the use and value of technical information
Cultural Consists of the values, attitudes, beliefs, social customs, and socialization processes concerning such things as sex roles, family structure, work orientation as well as religious and political practices	Social Control Represent individual views about how decisions regarding social issues should be made	Metacultural culturally shared systems of belief
	Power Frames Gaining power or leverage within a dispute
Legal Formal laws, regulations, legal procedures, and court decisions; characteristics of legal institutions and values, such as provisions for individual rights and jury trials		Policy Action frame that an institutional actor uses to construct the problem of a specific policy situation Examples include courts, legislatures, political parties, editorial pages, radio and television programs Institutional frame A more generic action frame from which institutional actors derive their policy frames.  Affect how institutional actors frame policy issues.
		Rhetorical Underlies the persuasive use of story and argument in policy discourse
	Characterization Similar to identity frames in that they are statements made by individuals about how they understand someone else to be  "Who are they?"

• Identity

 This is a way that allows individuals to analyze their identity and group affiliation influence on how they view and respond to conflict. In terms of our identity, we tend to try and protect the parts of our identity that help create our sense of self. This could include our beliefs, values, group affiliations, etc. 

When our identities are threatened or challenged through conflictual situations, they tend to respond in ways that reinforce their so-called identity reputation, to put it in simpler terms. In such situations, we tend to view the conflict in ways that align with and do not threaten our identities, therefore we aim to suppress, reject, or dismiss those perspectives that do threaten our identities. I also resonate this topic with the infatuation we seemingly have with our "first-impressions". They can determine a lot about how others perceive us and our own identities, hence, suppressing the more negative projections. 

• Demographic

For our purposes, the demo-graphic environment also includes characteristics of populations brought about by migrations that may determine social and political dimensions within communities and regions. Such alterations may change the demographic context in which a conflict occurs and may influence conflict dynamics in unique ways. I find this as a very reliable framework tactic as we refer to actual results within the population and how we act/co-exist with each other. 

• Power

Power frames are used to persuade the other parties that the speaker has, or can use, power to gain advantage in the dispute. 

• Characterization

Characterization frames influence how we view and respond to particular conflict situations, based on how we view others in the conflict. Characterization frames can include both negative and positive, or neutral characterizations. Often, characterization frames arise out of one's allegiance to a particular group and its representative values, interests, positions, or goals in the conflict. In other words, this particular framework is a great example of existing stereotypes or social "norms" within a large or small group. 

• Rhetorical

Rhetoric is the way in which you communicate in everyday life. These communications can be persuasive in nature and can be made of text, images, video, or any other type of media. This framework analysis requires an understanding and control of language and knowledge of culture; the rhetorical situation which includes the purpose, audience, topic, writer, and context, genre, etc. In many cases, rhetorical appeals include tactics of ethos, pathos, and logos, that can also contribute to its intended purpose.

    I decided to include the most important, but also unique framework tactics on my list. 

Starting with identity, this framework can be completely personalized depending on the individual. We all perceive ourselves and others completely different. As mentioned in my brief summary/definition, I feel as if this could also include first impressions. Sometimes we let others' opinions about us overtake what we do and how we present ourselves, it is just in our nature, (most of the time).  There are the negative and positive projections we have to deal with, and some will accept that, while others do what they can to hide it. 

    I feel as if demographics are a well-known source of evidence. You are getting a collective amount of data with the characteristics of the population included. Demographics are real-life examples of statistics and could possibly make or break results depending on the topic in question. I view demographics as a particularly easy method to use if given the right information as well. 

    

    Framework methods based on power seem pretty self-explanatory. They establish a source of power and authority that could be very helpful when setting a ground of credibility. Especially in arguments or conflicts. Using power, I feel, could also give off a more stern, believable tone when asserting dominance in any provided evidence or given explanation. 

    Like identity, characterization could also be projected as positive or negative. In many ways, this is similar to one's identity, but in this case, you could use characterization when referring to a group or groups of different individuals. It can also be used to "assign" stereotypes and explain why they are categorized as such. Using characterization can help introduce a group but also divide them by the different personalities they consist of.

    I chose to use rhetorical because it seemed unique in comparison to the others. We have all heard of rhetorical analysis' and this is exactly that, with a few tweaks to fit the framework method. What I like most about being able to possibly use a rhetorical framework is the use of the three appeals. Such as ethos, pathos, and logos. These appeals can all be used or just one, but nonetheless, still prove a clear point and thesis to their readers. 

sources:

Bryan, T. (2003). Context in environmental conflicts: Where you stand depends on where you sit. Environmental Practice, 5(3), 256-264.

Davis, C. B., & Lewicki, R. J. (2003). Environmental conflict resolution: Framing and intractability--an introduction. Environmental Practice, 5(3), 200-206.

Frame Reflection: Toward the Resolution of Intractable Policy Controversies, Donald A. Schon and Martin Rein, (New York: Basic Books, 1994).