Beate Ratter
University of Hamburg
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Featured researches published by Beate Ratter.
Sustainability Science | 2013
Arnd Holdschlag; Beate Ratter
The analysis of the dynamic interactions between social systems, integrated by governance and communication, and biophysical systems, connected by material and energy flows, remains a challenge. In this paper, we draw on the heuristic models of the “adaptive renewal cycle” and “panarchy” [Gunderson and Holling (eds) Panarchy: understanding transformations in human and natural systems. Island Press, Washington, 2002], which are embedded in the theory of complex adaptive systems. Taking island development research in The Bahamas as a case study, we investigate environmental stressors, knowledge and social response in the context of three distinct social–ecological subsystems: (1) the interaction between tropical storms/hurricanes and the social system of disaster preparedness/management; (2) coastal ecosystem degradation coupled with land development; and (3) the fishery, in which we also consider the impact of a recent biological invasion, the Indo-Pacific red lionfish. The findings demonstrate the complexity of panarchical relations and the crucial role of diverse and uncertain knowledge systems and underlying mental models of risk and environment for resilience and sustainability. These are acquired at different scales and form key variables of change. This also applies to processes of communication. Bringing together the various constantly evolving multi-level knowledge systems for effective communication and decision-making remains a major challenge.
Journal of Coastal Conservation | 2018
Birgit Gerkensmeier; Beate Ratter
Risk management processes increasingly call for enhanced stakeholder participation, and aim to integrate different risk perceptions, concerns and interests. Frequently, this goal is driven by the increased complexity of risk management processes, as risk management processes continuously have to deal with multi-risk situations including impacts resulting from risks of natural hazards and risks caused by misguided social or economic development. Although stakeholder participation is required by different policies, major challenges still arise from the question of how to perform multi-stakeholder participation in practice. In order to find answers, we tested the so-called ‘bow-tie analysis’ as a potential tool to facilitate multi-stakeholder participation with a major effort on integrating stakeholders risk perceptions and interest in the risk management processes. The bow-tie analysis is a commonly used risk assessment technique (IEC 2009) to analyse cause-and-effect pathways of risks, but its application in multi-stakeholder processes in risk management of natural hazards, especially in a European context, is rather new. Using practical experiences from the trilateral Wadden Sea Region we demonstrate the bow-tie analysis’ contribution to coastal risk management processes in this coastal area by facilitating collaborative identification, comprehension and analysis of the management system. The use of a modified bow-tie analysis in collaboration with stakeholders from the Wadden Sea Region proved to be an appropriate framework for enhancing the understanding of risk management processes and fostered disclosure of different perceptions and concerns of multi-risk problematics. The bow-tie can be beneficial as a communication and co-construction tool in risk management processes in a multi-risk context.
Journal of Coastal Conservation | 2018
Martin Döring; Beate Ratter
Numerous studies have begun to tackle the social and cultural dimensions of perceiving and framing climate change. Scholars from geography and environmental psychology in particular have started to highlight the importance of so-called place-based approaches to studying regional and local framings of climate change. This paper stands in this tradition. It reports on findings derived from a nationwide survey of perceptions of and reactions to extreme weather events and interviews conducted with inhabitants of three islands in the coastal region of North Frisia (Germany). Coastal dwellers understand climate change through the lens of local and regional experiences of meteorological phenomena, seasonal changes, knowledge of the sea, and changes in local flora and fauna. Our detailed ecolinguistic analysis revealed six prevailing conceptual metaphors: Climate change is an enemy, preventing climate change is fight/war, climate change is punishment for human sins, climate change is overheating/heat, climate change is hot air/hoax and climate change is eco-dictatorship. These metaphors were used to make sense of climate change at the regional level and provide insights into place-based social and cultural conceptualisations of climate change. An understanding of these meanings should feed into developing more grounded climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in coastal regions.
Archive | 2018
Beate Ratter
This chapter is about islands as pawns in the game of international interests and territorial powers. It deals with the spatial location of islands and the associated geopolitics, from the colonial period to the international Law of the Sea discussed in the 1980s and 1990s up to current examples of islands as pawns, from the Falkland Islands to the current conflicts in the South China Sea and the Senkaku Islands.
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management | 2017
Joseph M. Njoroge; Beate Ratter; Lucy Atieno
Purpose There is a growing recognition in Kenya that citizens should play a role in contributing to policy formation. This is a shift from a conventional approach where the elite in society or selected few would largely define policy problems and determine actions. One of the approaches that underpins such views is deliberative inclusionary processes (DIPs). DIPs emerged in the 1980s with the rise of civil societies that challenged various approaches by governments and authorities. While most countries have embarked on developing climate change policies, this paper aims to discuss DIPs and report on a study of the Kenya Climate Bill 2014 policy-making process. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain valuable information from stakeholders. The study aims at understanding how policy space and outcomes are shaped by policy discourses and narratives; actors, networks and institutions; and politics and interests. Findings The Kenyan case of a policy-making process represents a typical DIP. However, it had a unique start from social movement action to government ownership which was characterized by serious problems of inclusion and exclusion, relations, conflict of interests and a real play of power and control of the policy process. The findings underscore how politics and interests; actors, networks and institutions; and narratives and discourses are among the elements that shape policy outcomes. Originality/value Kenya being among the first countries to have a policy document on climate change, this study provides an insight for future policymakers and practitioners and a basis for comparative studies.
Tourism and Hospitality Research | 2018
Joseph M. Njoroge; Beate Ratter; Lucy Atieno; Innocent M Mugabe
This paper attempts to provide an empirical application of the enhanced Regional Tourism Sustainable Adaptation Framework using a case study of Mombasa Kenya. Climate variability is a challenge to tourism destinations, especially coastal and Island destinations, categories under which Mombasa, our study site falls under. Mombasa has limited capacity to adapt to climate change considering its socio economic conditions and weak institutions, thus making it necessary to explore the possible sustainable pathways for the city using the enhanced Regional Tourism Sustainable Adaptation Framework. Earlier frameworks for tourism adaptation to climate change lacked focus on regional dynamics as well as sustainability aspects, and their implementation pose the risk of mal adaptation to some extent. Using secondary data and data from interviews with tourism stakeholders in Mombasa, the enhanced Regional Tourism Sustainable Adaptation Framework guides our assessment of vulnerability and resilience of the destination, as well as identification of region specific adaptation options for the city within the context of sustainable practice. Based on climate change perceived impacts, risks and vulnerability various adaptation options are presented and discussed as provided in literature. The usefulness of the framework in guiding regional tourism destination managers and policy makers in their pursuit for a regional adaptation options within the tourism sector in order to reduce destinations vulnerability, increase resilience and take advantage of opportunities presented by climate change is underscored.
Archive | 2018
Beate Ratter
„Auch wenn die Hochwasserschutzanlagen in Hamburg einem sehr hohen Schutzstandard entsprechen, erhalt die Aufgabe, das Bewusstsein fur die Sturmflutgefahr in der Bevolkerung wach zu halten, durch den Klimawandel noch grosere Bedeutung“ (Burgerschaft der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg 2013). Was die Hansestadt Hamburg in ihrem Aktionsplan zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel betont, spiegelt den Kern der sozialwissenschaftlichen Klima- und Risikoforschung wider. Das Wissen um das Risikobewusstsein der Bevolkerung ist eine wichtige Grose im Risikomanagement. Wenn es in den Kopfen der Menschen keinen Platz fur personliches praventives Handeln und aktiven Schutz im Katastrophenfall gibt, wird es auch fur alle weiteren Masnahmen schwer werden, wirksam zu greifen (Scannell und Gifford 2011). Denn das Zusammenspiel des staatlichen und personlichen Risikomanagements kann nur dann wirksam funktionieren, wenn das Risiko auch auf der personlichen Ebene richtig eingeschatzt wird (Kates und Wilbanks 2003; Martens et al. 2009). Das Thema Risikowahrnehmung bekommt auch praktische Relevanz, wenn es darum geht, das Bewusstsein fur die vorhandene Bedrohung mit geeigneter Risikokommunikation in der betroffenen Bevolkerung zu steigern.
Archive | 2018
Beate Ratter
This chapter is concerned with outposts of globalisation from an economic point of view, i.e. the subjectivation of islands and the resulting spatial reorganisation. Using selected examples (the historical sugar trade, the recent financial business and tourism), the chapter highlights how islands have contributed to the global economy and discusses what they have gained in return. Establishing an export-oriented agrarian economy led to comprehensive ecological change and the full-scale reorganisation of society. Connecting to the global financial sector by means of offshore financial centres and tax havens once again changed the organisation of space, as did international tourism which is both a blessing and curse. The problems of delimitation and disadvantageous economies of scale are countered by specific island assets such as favourable locations, connectivity, regional cooperation and also economic particularities in island branding and niche economies.
Archive | 2018
Beate Ratter
This chapter introduces the phenomenon of islands as an object of geographical research. It focuses on the specialities and singularities of islands, opening up a field of tension between internal and external views and questioning existing stereotypes on vulnerability and romantic ascriptions to islands within this. Space is a significant factor of influence in terms of the mutual relationship between space and society, in the sense of analysing and assessing the significance of space for society and, in return, the significance of societal relations for the development of space. The development of islands is influenced by the spatial categories of isolation, distance/remoteness, size/smallness and insularity/islandness, as well as networking/connectedness, and not only within the context of ongoing globalisation.
Archive | 2018
Beate Ratter
This chapter introduces the phenomenon of islands as an object of geographical research. It focuses on the specialities and singularities of islands, opening up a field of tension between internal and external views and questioning existing stereotypes on vulnerability and romantic ascriptions to islands within this. Space is a significant factor of influence in terms of the mutual relationship between space and society, in the sense of analysing and assessing the significance of space for society and, in return, the significance of societal relations for the development of space. The development of islands is influenced by the spatial categories of isolation, distance/remoteness, size/smallness and insularity/islandness, as well as networking/connectedness, and not only within the context of ongoing globalisation.