Collective action in marine mammal co-management: relationships as tools of cooperation

Abstract

Collective action has great importance in solving many socio-ecological issues because the sustainable management of natural resources requires that different people and institutions cooperate with one another to contribute to a collective good. Over the past sixty years, two general theories of collective action have formed. These theories continue to influence debates about what factors drive collective action. In the 1960s, first-generation collective action scholars proposed that laws from centralized governments or privatization were needed to combat collective action problems such as overpopulation and overexploitation of resources. Second- generation scholars argue that groups can self-organize to solve collective action problems. Elinor Ostrom and other scholars have used empirical evidence to show that groups are able to effect collective action independently of external factors. These researchers argue that social norms and values supporting reciprocity, fairness, and trustworthiness play an important role in successful collective action. These various forms of social phenomena, such as relationships and trust, are known as social capital. To investigate the factors of collective action, I partnered with the Indigenous Peoples Council for Marine Mammals (IPCoMM), an umbrella organization of marine mammal co-management Alaska Native Organizations. IPCoMM member organizations work with Alaska Native communities and U.S. federal agencies to jointly manage marine mammal species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. This project is the first collective action research to be conducted in partnership with IPCoMM. The research reveals that the organizations are supporting their collective action efforts by strong relationships with one another and with federal agencies. Trust is one of the most important aspects of these relationships. The relationship-building and trust-building factors that foster collective action for IPCoMM include long-term relationships, frequent communication, face-to-face communication, respect for other viewpoints, inclusion within organizations, humility, personal bonds, and promise keeping. This research demonstrates that trustful relationships (or social capital) are integral to bringing diverse partners together for innovation and collaboration, and promoting collective action in marine mammal co-management in Alaska.