published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

This thesis focuses on presenting a theoretical and methodological framework that can be used to better understand the ability of different forms of tourism development to meet this key objective of sustainable development. I begin with a presentation of past attempts to grapple with the links that exist between tourism and the development process. It is shown that the theoretical approaches which dominated the tourism literature in the late 1970s and 1980s are unable to cope with the rapid changes occurring in the industry. In particular, these theories struggle to acknowledge and explain the growth of alternative forms of tourism. I then turn to new theoretical approaches epitomized by the work of Aulianna Poon. I argue that these new political economy approaches offer the best (though still far from perfect) way to understand the rise of alternative tourism and the complex interaction of global and local forces that characterize most forms of tourism development. / In its empirical analysis of Grenada's tourism industry, the thesis focuses on market demand, economic impacts and environmental issues. The results reveal that visitors to Grenada can be divided into three separate and distinct market segments: (i) rest and relaxation; (ii) active-water based; and (iii) new-age, soft-adventure types. While the vast majority of visitors come to Grenada for an active water-oriented vacation, the fastest growing segment is the soft-adventurers. The economic impact study shows that only about 29 cents in every dollar spent by the "average" tourists became direct local income in 1992. However, it is clear that tourist using medium-sized or small hotel accommodation consistently generate higher direct levels of income than those using other accommodation types. / This thesis introduces a mixture of innovative and more traditional techniques to analyze the sustainability of different forms of tourism development. The integrated approach also incorporates a Discrete Choice Experiment (market analysis) and then uses Arc/Info GIS to study water demand and pollution issues associated with different forms of tourism development in the Grand Anse beach area. Consistent with the results of the market segmentation analysis, the results of the discrete choice experiment further highlight the importance of the beach-front accommodation located within a semi-isolated setting. The results of the water impact assessment suggest that tourists demand twice as much domestic water per person/day as the local residents. / In conclusion, I discuss the applicability of my theoretical approach and examine the implications of the findings for Grenada's tourism development. It is clear that most tourism theory cannot adequately explain the shifts toward 'non-traditional' forms of tourism development. Since the empirical results indicate that this type of tourism development is best suited to Grenada's needs, it is important to seek alternative theoretical explanations. The empirical analysis reveals that traditional mass tourism development is likely to be the most environmentally damaging and economically disadvantageous tourism option to pursue on the island. The results show that low density, high quality accommodation is both in demand by tourists and is also associated with greater economic linkages and potentially less environmental damage. I conclude with a series of recommendations regarding the island's future tourism development efforts. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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The population growth and sophisticated demands of present day lifestyle place tremendous pressure on organisations resulting in industrialisation and diminishing the planets natural resources. Sustainability of the environment for both the present and future generations calls for a paradigm shift of stakeholders especially business organisations to take measures to curb wastage and become more environmentally conscious. A business's survival depends on the strategy it pursues in conjunction with the demands it faces in its operating environment. This thesis has evaluated Total's business using the tools of strategic management and studies the sustainable development strategies and initiatives adopted by this multinational corporation. The study is exploratory and links Total's business strategy to sustainable development. An in depth literature review was carried out on the theoretical aspects of strategic management and sustainable development. These included the strategic process, macro; industry; and internal environments, Porter' five forces model, core competencies, strategic intent, and the evaluation of strategy using the criteria of suitability, acceptability and feasibility by Johnson and Scholes. This followed through with a discussion of the major landmarks on sustainable development including the World Conservation Strategy, Brundtland Report, evolution of sustainable development, evaluation criteria, indicators, and the development of a model that was used in chapter four. The case study of Total is also presented discussing historical, financial, strategic and sustainable development material both at Total's international operations in France and the South African subsidiary. The research findings indicate that Total is a world-class company demonstrating success in the business, environmental and social arenas. It committed resources to both sustainable development and business development, producing good results in 2003. The company acceded to the requirements of Agenda 21, which called on countries to reduce pollution, emissions and the use of precious natural resources. Governments need to lead this change but emphasises that everyone can play their part in tackling non-sustainable practices. In this way, local actions can lead to the solution of global problems. Successful realisation of sustainable development involves a change in both ideas and actions. Globally sustainable development has gained prominence and hence it is time that it became an integral component of the strategy development process. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2005.

This thesis discusses the role of Environmental Impact Assessments in the implementation of the concept of sustainable development within the realm of North-South tensions regarding responsibilities for environmental conservation. Environmental Impact Assessments provide opportunities for realizing sustainable development not only because they operationalize the integration principle of sustainable development by facilitating the equilibrium between development and environmental conservation objectives, essential for ecological sustainability, but also because, in allowing for public participation in the assessment process, they promote the realization of the civil right of participation in public affairs, an essential component of good governance required for sustainable development to thrive. However, the thesis scrutinizes the reality in developing countries of adopting Environmental Impact Assessments. They are not yet accorded a lot of value because it is foreign technology imported from the North, which must be adopted often as a conditionality to that much needed development assistance, which often does not take into account cultural realities in developing countries and which inadvertently plays a role in the growth of Third World debt, corruption and erosion of sovereignty in the Third World. It argues, therefore that the utility of Environmental Impact Assessment in the realization of global sustainable development is limited by the existence of these realities unless modifications are made in the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessments in developing countries.

This thesis examines the concept of sustainable development with a primary focus on its advancement and implementation at a local level. The local level is identified as the site where significant potential exists for people to engage directly in the practice of sustainable development. Community is analysed as the social network where meaningful associations between people and place are established. The cultural transformation of values and ideologies that frame development trajectories is examined as an important means for achieving lasting change towards sustainable development. This work is based on original ethnographic research that was conducted on the Isle of Gigha, Scotland following the community buy-out of the island that occurred in 2002. While working with the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust and the development process for the island, research was carried out, employing the methods of participatory action research and co-operative inquiry, over a year and a half. This research concentrated on analysing the social processes that were enacted on the Isle of Gigha to increase the community’s ability to better plan and manage a programme of sustainable development. The idea of sustainable development for Gigha that recognises the natural heritage and cultural heritage as its primary assets is a strongly supported ideal among the members of the community. However, to formulate social processes that allowed for the active participation of the island’s population in development planning proved difficult, requiring regular scrutiny and revision. Community development engenders sustainability because the important criteria for individual support of sustainable development—which includes active participation and citizenship, care for the environment, and human well-being—are learned at a local level through a strong and supportive community. Three social processes are identified from the Gigha case study as significant for the ability of people at a local level to participate in sustainable development: forms of decision making, planning sustainable development, and the professional facilitation of community-led development. These social processes establish the three main themes of this work. Though this work focuses extensively at a local level, it also acknowledges that a thorough examination of sustainable development requires a critical analysis of global development trends and the ideologies that frame and define meanings of development and social progress. Thus, each of the three social processes is approached through three distinct analytical lenses: a critical analysis of socio-cultural development trends, a local analysis based on the Gigha case study, and a discussion of how these processes can be strengthened to establish social systems/infrastructures that encourage sustainable practices and behaviours. The majority of works discussing sustainable development describe the scientific and technological pathways for its increase. It is argued in this work that significant improvements for sustainable development require social change and direct transformation of values/ideologies that frame our understanding of the world and humanity’s development within it. This work examines how the identified social processes can be structured to support experiential learning and critical praxis at a local level thus creating a stronger understanding of the sustainable development imperative. An analysis of the agency and capacity of communities to produce their own programmes of sustainable development is presented in order to demonstrate how individual values of ownership, responsibility and accountability are engendered to create a stronger awareness and commitment towards transformative social change. This analysis also addresses how professionals/practitioners can facilitate this type of lasting change towards sustainability.

This dissertation explores the connection between sustainability and dominant images of the future in contemporary film. The research uses an ecofeminist visual interdisciplinary methodology to investigate the importance of vision/images of the future in guiding the creation of ecologically sound and socially just futures, and how films, as a source of dominant imagery, may be interfering with our ability to envision positive futures as well as provide opportunities for positive visions. The research is in two parts: 1) a visual studies analysis of contemporary films based on critical futures studies (Causal Layered Analysis) ecofeminism, and 2) and interviews with filmmakers. The visual analysis explores and problematises patterns of images of the future in film, especially those of natural landscapes, animals, plants, human settlements, food, and water as well as racial and gender roles within human society. The interview data documents the filmmakers’ experiences within film industry and their commentary on the filmmaking process and practices. The research participants’ words also inform the exploration of opportunities for the transformation of the filmmaking industry. Filmmaking is theorised as a technology, based on Ursula Franklin’s interdisciplinary work on technology as systems of practice, and Albert Borgmann’s philosophy of technology. This dissertation argues that we need visions of sustainable, diverse, and socially just futures to inspire and guide our actions in the present, and that films can contribute to positive imagery. The research explores barriers to envisioning sustainable futures, such as dystopic Hollywood film images and scientific/ environmental professional and scholarly practices that discourage visioning work. As well as exploring why it is important that societies have visions of ecologically and socially just futures, and how the filmmaking industry can be part of the sustainability revolution. / Graduate

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2003.

In this thesis, I explore the implications of integral theory for sustainable development and climate change response. Integral theory seeks to integrate objective and subjective perspectives using a developmental orientation. It addresses issues of subjectivity that have received inadequate attention in mainstream approaches to sustainable development, while also providing theoretical grounding for the developmental aspect of sustainable development. According to integral theory, there are four main epistemological approaches to any problem: behavioural, systemic, psychological and cultural. The first is objective and individual, the second objective and collective, the third subjective and individual and the fourth subjective and collective. Development occurs within each of these realms. To test the value and implications of integral theory for sustainable development, I adopt a case study on climate change response in Australia. I begin the case study by using the four perspectives of integral theory to guide a review of the energy and climate change literature. I follow the literature review with a critical review of Australian energy and greenhouse policy, providing the starting point for development of an integral climate change response. While there is attention to subjectivity in the literature, it is not reflected in Australian policy practices. An objective perspective and an instrumental form of rationality dominate policy. In the literature review, I identify two gaps in the literature that deserve attention. The first is the role of public subsidies in creating the observed cost differential between renewable energy sources and fossil fuel energy. I examine the relative magnitude of subsidies to fossil fuels and renewable energy in the Australian energy and transport sectors and conclude that the distribution of these subsidies distorts the market in favour of fossil fuels, particularly in the transport sector. The second is the application of a developmental perspective to cultural theories of climate policy discourse. I introduce a method called meta-discourse analysis to identify consistencies and relationships across discourse descriptions by different authors and demonstrate that aspects of each discourse can be related developmentally. Drawing on the literature review, policy review and other work, I propose an integral policy response to climate change that could be applied in Australia. The policy response combines participatory integrated assessment, normative futures work, a modified version of the cooperative discourse model for public participation, an evolutionary policy orientation and several methods to promote subjective development. The proposed policy approach should be equally applicable to other sustainable development issues.

University of Technology, Sydney. Institute of Sustainable Futures. / This thesis investigates the implications that urban motorway development has for the sustainability of cities. It does this by focusing on the sudden increase in road traffic that follows after the opening of additional motorway capacity, known as induced traffic growth, and asking whether induced traffic growth affects the ability of an urban system to sustain its essential economic functions. The investigation also addresses how urban systems impact on the biosphere. Induced traffic growth, and the urban motorway development responsible for it, are often cited as a threat to sustainability because they are seen to increase fuel consumption and air pollution without necessarily improving accessibility within a city. Opponents to urban motorway construction claim that it merely represents a reshuffling of system elements, such that the spatial relationships between transport and land-use are changed, but the amount of time spent travelling, and the number of economic exchanges made by people, remain much the same. Motorway development advocates refute these claims, arguing that motorway construction reduces travel times, cuts emissions and fuel consumption and increases economic activity, thereby enhancing sustainability. While it should be possible to resolve these issues through a program of empirical analysis, the phenomenon remains contested, raising questions about why and how its contested status affects transport decision-making and transport science. These questions are answered in this thesis by first investigating the social and political context in which debate over induced traffic growth has taken place. To do this, Soft Systems Methodology is used to investigate the way in which conflicts over urban motorway development have been resolved in London, Sydney and Zürich. The comparative analysis highlights differences between the rules of the political decision-making systems in each of the cities, and how these distribute power to different groups within society. While the history of conflicts is similar in each of the cities, more power is given to special interest groups from industry in London and Sydney. By contrast, the system in Zürich gives more power to resident populations through its system of direct democracy. Consequently, urban motorway development, the induced traffic growth it gives rise to and the impacts they have on city operations are acted upon in Zürich to the extent that transport policy has focused more on the development of comprehensive public transport systems. This leads to the conclusion that the contested status of induced traffic growth is more a product of the socio-economic goals of particular interest groups within society than it is of shortcomings in the empirical record or essentially unresolved theoretical issues. With the political context as background, the thesis then reviews the empirical analyses and theoretical explanations for the phenomenon. First, a review of past empirical analyses is undertaken to identify the grounds that have been cited to refute the induced traffic growth hypothesis. Two key areas are identified. The first involves difficulties with distinguishing the sources of induced traffic growth from traffic reassignment. The second concerns the absence of traffic data for routes that are potential alternatives to a new motorway from which traffic reassignment may have taken place. A case study of the M4 Motorway in Sydney is presented with data for all arterial through-routes that cross relevant screenlines, thereby overcoming several of the shortcomings identified in the review. This case study adds to the general literature of case studies that corroborate the induced traffic growth hypothesis, but provides the first substantial documented case for an Australian city. A review of the theoretical explanations for the phenomenon finds that while both microeconomic evaluation and standard modelling procedures provide accounts for the phenomenon that meet institutional expectations of technical veracity, neither constitutes a substantial description of the causal mechanism for the phenomenon, leaving unanswered questions about some findings in the empirical record. This conclusion prompts the development of a systems-based explanation for induced traffic growth that defines it as a form of multiple system feedback processes controlled by a travel budget time constant. By accounting for the phenomenon and its effects in this way, an explanation is provided for changes to travel behaviour and patterns of land-use development that reveals how urban motorway development affects urban systems in an holistic way. The final section of the thesis combines the insights gained by examination of the politics of the transport decision-making system with empirical analyses and theoretical explanations for induced traffic growth, to produce a general systems view of cities and their place within the earth’s biosphere. This treatment considers the problems of oil depletion and global climate change, and the effects that urban motorway development has on the ability of urban systems to adapt to changes in the system environment brought about by these problems. The thesis concludes that urban motorway development and the processes that it triggers, which are embodied in the phenomenon of induced traffic growth, can undermine a city’s comparative ability to sustain the accessibility needs of its residents.