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MA/PhD Theses Abstracts of Current Students & Alumni |
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Cody, Mary E., April 1983 - ANTHROPOLOGIST AS PLANNER: THE COASTAL ENERGY IMPACT PROGRAM
Abstract: This thesis examines the author's experiences as a planning intern with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and, based on this experience, analyzes the roles and contributions of applied anthropology. The relationship between anthropology and planning is examined closely to show how the characteristics of each discipline effects cooperation between the two, and in turn reflect the value of the anthropological input into the planning process. The first chapter defines both anthropology and planning with particular emphasis on anthropology's potential contributions to the planning process. The limitations of the discipline in its present state are also examined and recommendations are made as to how anthropology can better adapt to non-academic roles. This leads to a description of the organization of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and the purpose of the Coastal Energy Impact Program in which the internship took place. A discussion of the need for the Coastal Energy Impact Program in terms of oil exploration activities, the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of such a discovery, and the lack of local controls over the development of an oil industry follows. The potential impacts, combined with the local governments' lack of control over exploratory and development activities pose a serious problem to the region which should be of great concern to local politicians, planners, and anthropologists. Some of the findings made by the Coastal Energy Impact Program staff which could lead to the mitigation of the impacts are considered. Three scenarios are outlined which show expected levels of development and impact in the region associated with "not sufficient," "low to medium" and "high" levels of oil discovery. A detailed analysis of specific control mechanisms and their relative effectiveness in terms of controlling development is also given. Finally, the overall lack of successes of both the Coastal Energy Impact Program and of the anthropological contributions to the program are examined. The major problem lies not in one particular discipline or approach, but in the traditional approaches of planning, anthropology, and local government. Anthropology's holistic, dynamic, and investigative perspective provides the flexibility to adapt to numerous developmental and planning situations.
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