Modeling the environmental collaboration process: A deductive approach

Collaborative processes in which citizen and industry groups develop mutually acceptable environmental policies have become increasingly popular over the last two decades. In recognition of the importance of these processes, a substantial academic literature has arisen. The models that have developed within this literature have primarily employed the inductive approach. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the deductive approach can offer a valuable alternative perspective; and to employ that approach to construct a model of collaborative negotiations. Seven hypotheses derived from this model are tested against data drawn from a survey of participants in a land-use planning exercise in the Canadian province of British Columbia.