Managing ecological diversity, simultaneity, complexity and change: An eco- political perspective

Abstract

Mainly Indian studies on Governance From Ecological Perspective during last decade were reviewed as a part of third survey on public administration organized by Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi. The importance of ecological or environmental issues has been realized in several studies but the bearing ecological variables have on the design and dynamics of public administration has not been adequately conceptualized. The discipline of political science has particularly neglected the rigorous empirical studies on this aspect. Of late there has been resurgence of interest in the study of ecological perspective as it evolved in ancient indian literature. The fusion of ancient understanding and the modern insights available through both natural and social science analysis remains to be done. This review is about conception of ecology (relationship between living beings and their environment- living and non-living) in viewing interaction between people and state. Several question have been kept in view: how have the demands of ecological variability and administrative uniformity been matched; if scientific enquiries and institutional arrangement for incorporating the emerging insights in design of public system are adequate, how have peoples organizations and NGO’s (non-government organizations) reacted to the chams between public policies and local realities; what are the strategies and styles of protest, campaign and legal activism in conflicts around natural resources; how has the framework for analyzing public policies for risk and uncertainty evolved; and, finally what are the questions that the discipline must address in future. The paper is divided into four parts. Part one deals with the evolution of ecological thought in public administration. Part two includes discussion on ecological diversity and uniformity of administrative system. Pert three looks into ecological movements and the strategies and styles used by these struggles in different parts of the country. The approaches to negotiation, campaigns and legal activism used by the eco- movement/ struggles are also discussed. How public policy deals with the issue of risk and uncertainty is discussed in part four. The implications for further research have been drawn in each section but an overview has been presented in the end.