Perception and Conflict in Conservation: The Rashomon Effect
Publisher: BioScience
Author(s): Phillip S. Levin, Steven A. Gray, Christian Möllmann, and Adrian C. Stier
Date: 2021
Topics: Conflict Causes, Cooperation, Governance, Renewable Resources
Conflict is a common feature in conservation and resource management. Environmental conflicts are frequently attributed to differences in values; however, variability in the perception of facts, rooted in social and cultural differences also underlies conflicts. Such differences in perception have been termed the Rashomon effect after the Kurosawa film. The present article explores a conservation Rashomon effect—a phenomenon that results from a combination of differences in perspective, plausible alternative perspectives of a conservation issue, and the absence of evidence to elevate one perspective above others. As a remedy to the Rashomon effect, policy-makers have turned to scientists as honest brokers who share a common environmental reality. The authors evaluate this supposition and suggest that scientists, themselves, display Rashomon effects. The paper suggests that Rashomon effects can be reduced by acknowledging the plurality of reality, embracing epistemic pluralism, and prioritizing an inclusive process of resource management.