Rationality and forest utilization

Abstract: Within the Swedish context, forest utilization has progressively developed into a complex and dynamic system which connects and divides the diversity of forests interests who utilize the resource under the political mechanism designed to develop and protect its economic, environmental and social dimensions. This paper explores the Swedish Forest Agency’s (SFA) use of participation and dialogue in the context of achieving the environmental quality objective, Sustainable Forests. In doing so, provides insights into the challenges faced on the institutional level where objective success is dependent upon external and unified action. Using Habermas and the theory of ‘communicative rationality,’ there has emerged three categories of analysis from the empirical data (the process, knowledge and roles) which have illustrated the general success of the SFA’s National Advisory Council as a means of creating mutual understanding and collective perspectives. In saying that, this paper also identifies and suggests an institutional/organizational dependence upon contradicting means of legitimacy which create a divide between collective perspectives and unified environmental action.