<論文>対話の場の限界と非常事態の生みだすもの : アイルランドにおける農民とウォーカーの環境認識から

Abstract

The countryside access issue is a conflict over farmlands between their legal owners (mainly farmers) and people using the lands for recreational purposes. This conflict is one between two different perceptions of the environment: work and recreation. This paper analyzes the perceptions of the environment of farmers and recreational walkers in one area in the Republic of Ireland, where there have been serious access problems, and explores how these two perceptions can be reconciled. An inquiry into the practices of farmers and walkers in the area reveals they have built the same kind of relationships with the environment, though their activities themselves are different. Therefore, there is the possibility for them to reconcile their perceptions through dialogue. However, the countryside access issue often involves influences from actors outside of such dialogue, and dialogue by local stakeholders in the study area did not result in reconciliation because of such outside influences. On the other hand, the local mountain rescue team easily gains access to the area for their operations because of its emergent nature. Moreover, some rescue members are learning the perceptions of the environment of local farmers, because they think such knowledge provides them useful clues for searching for missing people in the mountains. This practice creates an alternative opportunity for walkers to reconcile their perception of the environment with farmers, other than the opportunity created in dialogue. This fact shows there is a way of reconciling different perceptions of the environment through pursuing one's own interest.