SOCIAL VALUES TOWARD TIME AND THEIR EFFECT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND SURINAME A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy by NANCY WEBSTER GLEASON In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy AUGUST 2011 Dissertation Committee WILLIAM MOOMAW, Chair WILLIAM MARTEL PATRICK VERKOOIJEN RESUME of NANCY W. GLEASON EDUCATION PhD, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, August 2011 Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations • Comprehensive Exams: International Environment and Resource Policy, and International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution • Dissertation Title: “Social Values towards Time and their Influence on Sustainable Development Performance: A case study analysis of Sustainable Forest Management in Guyana, Papua New Guinea and Suriname MA, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, 2007 The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts MSc, Masters of Science in Economic History, 2001 London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom BA, Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, 2000 George Washington University, Washington, DC Sigma Iota Rho TEACHING EXPERIENCE Tufts University, Political Science Department Medford, MA Lecturer 2008 – Present Course Titles: Conflict and Natural Resources (Fall 2010-present); Global Environmental Politics (Fall2008-presnt); International Environmental Negotiations (Spring 2009 – present); Politics, Culture and the Environment (Spring 2009-present). Previous Course Taught (Fall 08 and 09): Comparative Politics of the Middle East Director of Internships Program, Political Science Dept. 2009-Present Advisor to ~20 students per year as they seek academic credit for working internships The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University Medford, MA Teaching Assistant, “International Environmental Negotiations” Fall 2010 Teaching Assistant, “Introduction to Negotiation Theory” Fall 2010 Teaching Assistant, “Foundations of Environmental Policy” Fall 2007 - 2009 Teaching Assistant, “Clean Energy Technology and Policy Issues” Spring 2008 Teaching Assistant, “Sustainable Development Diplomacy” Fall 2009 Amideast, American-Mideast Educational & Training Services Giza, Cairo Egypt Business Skills and English Language Trainer 2002- 2003 SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE UNESCO, IHP Water and Cultural Diversity Programme Paris, France/Boston, MA Intern, International Hydrological Programme (IHP) 2009 © Gleason ii Dutch Training: Sustainable Development Diplomacy The Netherlands Funded Participant June 2009 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Washington, DC Intern, Latin American Bureau: Rural Sustainable Development Division June-July 2006 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. Watertown, MA Environmental Planner, Environmental Division 2005 International Resources Group (IRG) Washington DC Associate, Business Development Division 2003 – 2004 Progress 2 Maadi, Cairo, Egypt Training Program Manager 2002- 2003 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS International Studies Association, 2008 – Present The Academy of Political Science, 2008 – Present American Political Science Association, 2008 – Present PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCES The Emerging Economies as Potential Leaders of the International Sustainable Development Agenda: Sustainable Development Diplomacy at Brazil’s 2012 Rio+20 Summit (Co-Author Michaela Papa) Presented: International Studies Association Conference, Montreal, Canada March 19, 2011 Overcoming Natural Resource Induced Civil Conflict: The Case of Suriname's Forests Presented: International Studies Association Conference, Montreal, Canada March 16, 2011 Sustainable Forest Management in Research Policy: Forest Protection in Suriname Presented at the International Studies Association Conference, New Orleans, LA Feb. 2010 Table Co-Chair, Global Climate Change and National Security Conference on US Affairs at United States Military Academy at West Point (SCUSA). November 2009 Social Values Towards Time and Their Influence on Surinamese Forest Cover Contemporary Issues in International Relations Conference, Medford, MA Oct. 16th, 2009 Updated original three volume series by B.R. Mitchell with extensive research spanning multiple topics and eight years of statistics. 1. Mitchell, B.R. (2003). International Historical Statistics; Africa, Asia & Oceania 1750-2000. 4th Ed. Palgrave MacMillan, New York. 2. Mitchell, B.R. (2003). International Historical Statistics; Americas 1750-2000. 4th Ed. Palgrave MacMillan, New York. 3. Mitchell, B.R. (2003). International Historical Statistics; Europe 1750-2000. 4th Ed. Palgrave MacMillan, New York. © Gleason iii ABSTRACT This research examines whether sustainable forest management, a proxy for sustainable development performance, is influenced by social values towards time, known as temporal orientation. Temporal orientation is the way an individual views time, and future- directed temporal orientation relates to the anticipated causality of future events. This research tested the congruence between sustainable forest management and future-directed temporal orientation in three case studies, Guyana, Papua New Guinea and Suriname. Sustainable forest management performance was measured by applying seven specific criteria and indicators. Future directed temporal orientation was measured using five identified behavioral expressions: precautionary behavior, values toward intergenerational equity, access to quality education, corruption levels and the prevalence of secure property rights. Of the five identified social values reviewed here intergenerational equity, precautionary behavior, and property rights all demonstrated strong predictability of future- directed temporal orientation. However, education and corruption failed to provide definitive evidence of temporal orientation due to intervening variables. The main finding is that future-directed social values do positively correlate with strong sustainable forest management performance. Guyana’s strong sustainable forest management correlated strongly with future directed temporal orientation, and Papua New Guineas relatively weak sustainable forest management performance correlated strongly with that country’s lack of future directed temporal orientation. The gravity with which Suriname is unable to provide secure property rights does not correlate with the moderate sustainable forest management performance it exhibits. The findings of this research provide a new way to improve sustainable forest management and inform best practice for the success of the United Nations Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) program. The findings also identify a new tool, social values towards time, to tackle global climate change mitigation challenges. Key Words: Guyana, Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Precautionary Principle, Intergenerational Equity, Education, Corruption, Property Rights, Sustainable Forest Management, REDD, Temporal Orientation © Gleason iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation has been six years in the making, which means many different people have played a role in helping me to make it a reality. First and foremost I must thank my amazing husband, Dr. Alexander Mark Gleason, for his love and unending support throughout my doctoral education. He has endured much to help me get to this stage and I am eternally grateful for all of it. His encouragement, proof reading, late night dinners, analytical thought, and leadership by example have been essential to me. It is because he is an amazing father to our wonderful son Theodore that I have been able to write this dissertation. I could not have done this without him. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my family. My grandmother, Edith Earle Clark has been both an inspiration and motivator throughout my education and I would not be where I am today without her. My parents, Mary Clark Webster and William H. Webster have both been so encouraging and supportive of my education. Early on, they worked hard to give me the skills I would need to complete my education and I thank them for taking the time to do so. I am forever indebted for the gift they have given me. To my siblings, Edith Webster Naegele, Mary Webster Krulic and William Chance Webster - I love you. Thank you for understanding that I cannot spell and being willing to proof read many papers over the years. Their support has meant very much to me. My parents-in-law, Paul and Phyllis Gleason have also been a tremendous help by both encouraging me and by watching my son in order to give me the time I needed to write this dissertation. My advisor, Professor Bill Moomaw has been my biggest academic supporter since my first day at the Fletcher School in 2005. He has patiently listened to me bounce around ideas about culture, sustainable development, and the future of the planet, and encouraged me to find answers to my questions. I am grateful for his continued support of these ideas and me. I am also indebted to my other two committee members, Professor William Martel and Dr. Patrick Verkooijen. Professor Martel has consistently reminded me to view the larger picture. Dr. Verkooijen has been generous to provide his boundless energy to this research. I am grateful for his insights, encouragement and support. I must also thank Dr. Jagmohan S. Maini of University of Toronto and Dr. Miguel E. Basáñez, Acting Director of the Cultural Change