Managing the tragedy: an inter-disciplinary model for managing the environment as interacting chaotic hierarchy

This paper describes Hardin's 'tragedy of the commons' as a variation on the prisoner's dilemma, and argues that most cases of environmental degradation can be seen as aspects of that tragedy. Many current environmental management systems are seen as failing to address the complexity of this situation and centre on reducing its social and biophysical aspects as complex into static and discrete entities. However, here it is proposed that environmental management needs to supplement this current reliance on the quantitative paradigm with a qualitative investigation of institutional culture. It is then argued that the successful manage ment of Hardin's 'tragedy' involves the creation of a continuously adaptive institution, whose value sets are in alignment with those of the individual's who exist within that institution; The paper describes the creation of such an institution via a three-stage chaotic system modelling process, within which consideration is given to the holistic nature of relationship within institutional culture, and between this culture and its external environment. It is proposed that, through this model, the current strategic gap within environmental management can be addressed and that, ultimately, Hardin's 'tragedy of the commons' can be managed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.