The problematic social dimension of sustainable development
The case of the Forest Stewardship Council
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19500466 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Magnus Boström (0000-0002-1223-1311, Södertörn University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2012 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 3-15 |
| Publication date | 2012-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1350-4509 • E-ISSN: 1745-2627 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13504509.2011.582891 |
| OpenAlex | W2000757125 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 24 |
| References cited | 16 |
There is broad support worldwide for the concept of sustainable development and the integration of its three pillars: economic development, environmental protection and social development. Nevertheless, previous research shows substantial difficulties associated with fully incorporating and operationalising social sustainability features in various sectors. The present article aims to explore further the reasons why incorporation of social sustainability aspects appears to pose a challenge. The article has a twofold explorative aim. First, the aim is to identify opportunities/benefits or difficulties/detriments that emerge when actors try to incorporate social aspects into sustainability projects. Second, the article probes for explanations for the observed challenges. This is done by referring to a case study examining how the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has attempted to incorporate social sustainability goals, principles and criteria. Using qualitative interviews, FSC-related documents, participant observation, as well as previous research, the article examines the successes and challenges associated with including social sustainability features in the standards and certification process. Observed achievements and difficulties are highlighted in relation to four general aspects: (1) improvement of substantive social sustainability goals; (2) local organisation, empowerment and employment; (3) communication; and (4) small-scale and community-based forestry. The article suggests and analyses eight reasons for these challenges, which relate to discursive, structural or organisational aspects. The findings presented here may also be useful in attempts to understand other similar integrative transnational and/or local sustainability projects
Business · Certification · Economics · Empowerment · Environmental resource management · Environmental stewardship · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Social sustainability · Sociology · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting · Forest Management and Policy · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Ecology
Global multi-stakeholder standard setters
Is open space a magnet for business? A spatial analysis of New York
Patterns and extent of threats to the protected areas of Bangladesh
The Organization of Markets
Reimaging socio-spatial planning
Certification with Russian characteristics
Non-conformities to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards
The impacts of forest certification for Chilean forestry businesses
The Social Dimension of the Circular Economy
Using fuzzy cognitive mapping and social capital to explain differences in sustainability perceptions between farmers in the northeast US and Denmark
A missing pillar? Challenges in theorizing and practicing social sustainability
The social dimension as a driver of sustainable development
Corporate social responsibility and sustainability
Applying contingent valuation to measure the economic value of forest services
Social development benefits of hydroelectricity CDM projects in Brazil
Data issue considerations for the monitoring and evaluation of natural resources and the environment – a case study of Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province, China
Forest dependence and income inequality in rural Ethiopia
Identifying forest ecosystem services through socio-ecological bundles
To what extent is Nepal’s community forestry contributing to the sustainable development goals? An institutional interaction perspective
Prioritising development planning in the Indian semi-arid Deccan using sustainable livelihood security index approach
Enhancing the social dimension of development
Exploring Synergies Among Agricultural Sustainability Dimensions
Indigenous Peoples’ participation in sustainability standards for extractives
In the eye of the stakeholder
Fairness and Futurity
Social sustainability
Reframing Public Policy
Changing forest conservation and management paradigms
Sustainable poverty alleviation through a forestry project in Tamilnadu State of India
The environmental–social interface of sustainable development
The role of governments in forest certification—a normative analysis based on new institutional economics theories
Certification of sustainable forest management practices
In the Market But Not of It
Standardizing sustainable development? The Forest Stewardship Council’s plantation policy review process as neoliberal environmental governance
North-South Parity in Global Governance
Just sustainability
| Unique citing works | 24 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,71 |
| Citation span | 2012 - 2025 (14) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 21 |