Translational agency in resilient social-ecological systems: First nations and the conservation economy in Canada

This paper examines the nature and role of agency in the collaborative design of resilient social-ecological systems (SESs).  SES researchers examine factors that influence the ability of SESs to absorb disturbance and adapt to change.  While this work draws attention to the importance of social learning, leadership, and governance institutions for collaborative resource management, it generally operates with an under-theorized understanding of agency and power.  However, poor conceptualization of SES agency entails that our knowledge of how resilience can be achieved in practice – particularly by marginalized groups – remains incomplete.  Moreover, by assuming that the capacity to act exists within the social ‘side’ of coupled social and ecological systems, researchers fail to consider how agency pertains to the entire SES.  Drawing on Actor-Network Theory, I propose the concept of translational agency – the ability of a system to transform in the face of stress – to better account for agency within SESs.  I illustrate the concept through a case study of British Columbia’s newly designed ‘conservation economy’.  Analysis of textual material and interviews with First Nations, environmentalists, forestry companies and governments reveals three aspects of translational agency: 1) the ability of marginalized groups to influence SES design is contingent upon the translation of actors’ interests and identities, 2) the ability of an SES to adapt to stress depends on the translation of hazards into less threatening forms, and 3) the design of resilient SESs is influenced by nonhuman actants.  The paper contributes to research on natural resource governance by developing a concept of agency specifically applicable to SES resilience.