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Uniform TitleCoping with climate change: toward a theory of adaptive capacity
NamePosey, John (author), Andrews, Clinton (chair), Listokin, David (internal member), Chess, Caron (internal member), Diamond, David (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2008-10
Date Created2008
SubjectPlanning and Public Policy,
Climatic changes--Social aspects,
Climate and civilization
DescriptionAs the earth's climate changes in response to atmospheric greenhouse gases, communities around the world will be faced with new conditions. This dissertation investigates factors that influence the ability of municipalities to adapt to a changing climate.
Prior literature has assumed that there is a relationship between adaptive capacity and indicators of socio-economic status (SES) such as income and race. However, this relationship has not been adequately tested at the community level.
This dissertation makes three contributions to literature on adaptive capacity. First, it offers a quantitative test of the relationship between SES and adaptive capacity at the community level. The evidence presented in this dissertation supports the previously hypothesized relationship.
Second, I employ social capital theory, regime analysis and structuration theory to explain the relationship between SES and adaptive capacity. I argue that racial and economic polarization can discourage the formation of a stable and broad-based governing coalition, thereby diminishing the development of adaptive capacity.
Third, the dissertation presents a historical comparison between Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans, Louisiana to illustrate the usefulness of social capital theory, regime analysis and structuration theory to the study of adaptive capacity.
Prior literature has assumed that there is a relationship between adaptive capacity and indicators of socio-economic status (SES) such as income and race. However, this relationship has not been adequately tested at the community level.
This dissertation makes three contributions to literature on adaptive capacity. First, it offers a quantitative test of the relationship between SES and adaptive capacity at the community level. The evidence presented in this dissertation supports the previously hypothesized relationship.
Second, I employ social capital theory, regime analysis and structuration theory to explain the relationship between SES and adaptive capacity. I argue that racial and economic polarization can discourage the formation of a stable and broad-based governing coalition, thereby diminishing the development of adaptive capacity.
Third, the dissertation presents a historical comparison between Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans, Louisiana to illustrate the usefulness of social capital theory, regime analysis and structuration theory to the study of adaptive capacity.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references (p. 149-158).
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.17543
LanguageEnglish
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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