Combining the Viable System Model and Nature Futures Framework
摘要
Conceptual linkages between the Viable System Model (VSM) and the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) are explored drawing on south Asian human-elephant conflict (HEC) as an illustrative case study. While the VSM can map operationalized forestry systems responsible for managing HEC, this paper focuses on pre-structural foresighting process in participatory governance. The paper posits the NFF is a contemporary “Platform for Change” and that entailing VSM-related knowledge within NFF scenario process can help facilitate viable enterprise networking within global environmental and conservation discourse. The NFF-VSM approach helps address complex science-policy gaps in ecological governance through improved viability in communication, stakeholder engagement, and participatory decision-making. A poststructural foresighting lens is adopted to theorize VSM-NFF combining as an emerging metalanguage for navigating undecidability in complex sustainability governance. South Asian HEC literature and secondary case studies are analysed within the NFF-VSM complex to establish transformational knowledge focused on raising citizen diplomacy pressure. The results include: 1. Mapping HEC undecidability using NFF-VSM metalanguage principles. 2. Signalling cross-cultural directionality via a color semiotic triple-bottom line (TBL). 3. Presenting a speculative fabulation to reframe posthuman participatory collaboration. The NFF functions as a viable system four metalanguage domain to address complex ecological governance challenges that require affective images of desirable futures. VSM principles and genealogy can support development of speculative NFF scenario/fabulation (systems fiction) to catalyse foresight-policy and identity transformation. Combining VSM with NFF as a tool for addressing undecidability within sustainable governance promotes interdisciplinary ‘ideal speech’ communication. It improves futures literacy and offers actionable insights for networked cross-cultural policy-making. Finally, it demonstrates how grounded South Asian HEC case studies can inform viable enterprise telecoupling and support participatory governance promoting sustainable human-elephant coexistence (HECx).