PhD (General)

Integral Ecology and Environmental Policy Development: Understanding Complex Natural, Social and Political Systems in the 21st Century

Supervised by Dr Peter Hay

In this research I am investigating the potential for integrating or unifying a wide range of ecological, economic, social and political (policy) “perspectives” using integral theory (in particular an Integral Ecology framework, which is a specific area of Integral Theory specialising in environmental phenomena). Integral Theory identifies four major perspectives or “quadrants” that exist in all fields of inquiry: subjective, intersubjective, objective and interobjective, which are represented in all major languages by the pronouns I, you/we, it and a “collective” it (or “its” – see Figure 1).

Integral Theory recognises that everything has exterior and interior and individual and collective aspects. Each of these quadrants has a number of disciplines or sciences that are characteristic of that realm or perspective. Integral Theory also recognises that within each of these quadrants there are developmental stages or “levels”.

As well as there being development or evolution in each quadrant, there are multiple lines of development. An example of this within the self and consciousness quadrant would be the so-called “multiple intelligences”. Integral Theory uses an “all quadrants, all levels, all lines” approach to analysis (or “AQAL” for short).

My dissertation is developing a kind of “shorthand” integral approach to environmental policy development. It is distilling the seemingly complex approach of Integral theory into a practical policy development framework. One of the sections of the thesis will examine the use of an “AQAL” approach to identifying and managing stakeholder relationships during policy development and also an analysis of communication requirements for specific audiences using an Integral approach. The thesis will examine environmental policy and politics globally and in Australia. Where the dissertation looks at frameworks for integrating and transcending the so-called “green” state, it only partially refers to green policy as supported by ostensibly “green” political parties. More fully, it refers to a late modern or even postmodern approach to environmental politics and policy, one that in many ways is represented by the modern liberal democratic state.

Those interested in an outline of integral theory and integral ecology can visit the following site:

http://www.integralinstitute.org"