Science, power, and system dynamics: the political economy of conservationbiology

Frustration with the lack of action on conservation issues by governments b as sparked debate around the policy role of conservation biologists. We ana lyzed the political economy of conservation biology, that is, of the dynami cs of the political and economic structures within which conservation biolo gy operates, and we suggest more productive means for conservation biologis ts to achieve conservation goals. Within the modern state, conservation goa ls are marginalized because the growth needs of industrial capital have the highest priority. Environmental advocacy within this system largely addres ses only proximate concerns and has limited success. Science is a product o f modern society, but scientists now need to foster novel institutional arr angements in which humans can function within the limits of natural systems . This entails a larger recognition of the inherent contradictions residing within current institutions that themselves depend on unsustainably high r esource flows. As one critical counterbalance to these institutions, we dis cuss community-based management and research as primary institutions throug h which sustainable use of natural resources might be achieved.