Divergence of nature myths and social relations: Polish state foresters between hierarchical and egalitarian contexts

Autorzy

• Sabine Storch Georg August University of Göttingen, Chairgroup for Forest and Nature Conservation Policy
  Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
  phone: 0049-(0)761 203 8484, fax: 0049-(0)761 203 3705
  e-mail: sabine.storch@ifp.uni-freiburg.de

Abstract

On the basis of asurvey among Polish foresters, the socio-cultural context of the Polish state forest organization is explored. The study is based upon Grid-group cultural theory, which assumes four political cultures (hierarchical, egalitarian, individualistic, fatalistic). These cultures comprise different perceptions of nature, compassed as nature myths. Yet testing the influence of the adherence to these nature myths on some variables (organizational level, main tasks, years in forestry, gender) showed that they are not ahighly discriminating factor in this regard. However, they seem to influence opinions on the need for adaptation to climate change. Those foresters adhering to the hierarchical nature myth, who are the majority, consider it to be less important than the other foresters. Through additional measurements, it could also be shown that the socio-cultural context of state foresters is not only hierarchical, but also egalitarian. This is attributed to the particularities of the foresters’ work that requires flexibility when dealing with nature.

Keywords

• Grid-group cultural theory
• nature myths
• social relations
• state foresters
• survey
• Poland