How does ‘meaningful dialogue’ play out in natural resources management?
Natural resource developments such as mines, wind farms, or gas extraction can have significant implications and impacts, both positive and negative, for nearby communities and for society more broadly. The extent to which such developments are ‘accepted’ by diverse stakeholders has a significant effect on the nature and implications of those impacts.
Relationships and trust between parties is of utmost important. Research suggests that two-way communication, or dialogue, is an important way to build such relationships—but to what extent is this rhetoric meaningful or tokenistic? My research explores how such dialogue can build relationships, trust, fairness, and acceptability among stakeholders in the context of resources developments.
More than just talk: what does ‘meaningful dialogue’ actually mean?
My research explores the extent to which rhetoric about ‘meaningful dialogue’ translates into practice in attempts to establish a social licence to operate in natural resources management sectors. Dialogue, as a cited mechanism of ‘meaningful’ two-way stakeholder engagement, has become a buzzword in recent years within the social licence discourse. Exploring explicitly what ‘meaningful’ dialogue means, looks like in practice, and how it is operationalised by those who implement and engage in such dialogue leads to various implications for future stakeholder engagement practices. For example, are there certain factors that facilitate or hinder dialogue? Furthermore, exploring whether different forms or types of dialogue lead to different outcomes for those involved in dialogue, and for developments or the sector more broadly, will be important in implementing stakeholder engagement strategies that achieve meaningful, mutually beneficial outcomes.
About Lucy Mercer-Mapstone
I have always had an intrinsic interest in how people communicate. I came to the University of Queensland to do dual science and journalism degrees because the communication of complex issues—particularly science—between people of diverse backgrounds fascinated me. Jumping into every field of knowledge that pertains to this complex and multifaceted nexus has led me to become a keen interdisciplinary researcher, currently focusing on the ways in which people understand and use dialogue to build trust and relationships around contentious natural resource management issues.
Get in touch
Lucy is always happy to speak about her research. Potential speaking topics include:
Articles written by Lucy for the Social Change Blog:
If you’re interested in having Lucy speak at an event or collaborating on research, please get in touch.
Natural resource developments such as mines, wind farms, or gas extraction can have significant implications and impacts, both positive and negative, for nearby communities and for society more broadly. The extent to which such developments are ‘accepted’ by diverse stakeholders has a significant effect on the nature and implications of those impacts.
Relationships and trust between parties is of utmost important. Research suggests that two-way communication, or dialogue, is an important way to build such relationships—but to what extent is this rhetoric meaningful or tokenistic? My research explores how such dialogue can build relationships, trust, fairness, and acceptability among stakeholders in the context of resources developments.
More than just talk: what does ‘meaningful dialogue’ actually mean?
My research explores the extent to which rhetoric about ‘meaningful dialogue’ translates into practice in attempts to establish a social licence to operate in natural resources management sectors. Dialogue, as a cited mechanism of ‘meaningful’ two-way stakeholder engagement, has become a buzzword in recent years within the social licence discourse. Exploring explicitly what ‘meaningful’ dialogue means, looks like in practice, and how it is operationalised by those who implement and engage in such dialogue leads to various implications for future stakeholder engagement practices. For example, are there certain factors that facilitate or hinder dialogue? Furthermore, exploring whether different forms or types of dialogue lead to different outcomes for those involved in dialogue, and for developments or the sector more broadly, will be important in implementing stakeholder engagement strategies that achieve meaningful, mutually beneficial outcomes.
About Lucy Mercer-Mapstone
I have always had an intrinsic interest in how people communicate. I came to the University of Queensland to do dual science and journalism degrees because the communication of complex issues—particularly science—between people of diverse backgrounds fascinated me. Jumping into every field of knowledge that pertains to this complex and multifaceted nexus has led me to become a keen interdisciplinary researcher, currently focusing on the ways in which people understand and use dialogue to build trust and relationships around contentious natural resource management issues.
Get in touch
Lucy is always happy to speak about her research. Potential speaking topics include:
- Public participation in decision-making processes
- The role of dialogue in social licence to operate
- Ways in which communication can build trust and relationships
- The power of co-ownership through collaborative communication
Articles written by Lucy for the Social Change Blog:
If you’re interested in having Lucy speak at an event or collaborating on research, please get in touch.
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