Taking Ownership of Environmental Problems: How Local Nimby Groups Expand Their Goals

Abstract

Frame theory and social-constructionist concepts are used to explain how local, environmental NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) groups expand their narrow, reactive goals. NIMBYs may expand their goals by becoming "proactive" in orientation, i.e., initiating broader environmental programs that are new to the community. They can also expand to "watchdog" goals by actively monitoring every environmentally threatening plan. Using interview and survey data collected from leaders and members (N = 113) of six environmental NIMBY groups, fixed-goal NIMBYs are compared with ones that became proactive or watchdog in orientation. It is proposed that activists' rhetorical ability to take "ownership of a social problem" away from local and state authorities causes their groups to become "watchdog" or "proactive" in orientation. Ownership solidifies diagnostic, prognostic and motivational framing, thereby making expanded or future action more likely. Activists "own" a diagnosis by claiming to be experts on broader environmental problems. They "own" a prognosis by implementing their own solutions. They "own" a motivation frame by taking the burden of responsibility to act on future diagnoses and prognoses. Ownership creates rhetorical opportunities for local NIMBY groups to expand their goals by providing activists an independent, moral language to address environmental problems.