The Ideological Basis of Conservation and Natural- Resources Policies and Programs

Conservation and resources policies and programs have not been rooted in explicit, fully developed ideological concepts. Instead, they have grown out of the necessities and desires to deal with narrowly defined problems. In this re gard, this program area serves as a paradigm of the American politico-governmental process which stresses pragmatic prob lem-solving. Although a variety of ideological concepts may be attributed to or inferred from particular policies or pro grams, only one clear-cut issue with strong ideological over tones can be identified as common to all programs in this sub ject-matter field. This is the attitude or philosophy with re spect to the role of government, the recognition of the social character of resource problems and of the necessity to use gov ernment to accomplish conservation and resource goals. Al though not a grand ideological conception in the classic sense, this progovernmental emphasis, in the context of a prag matic approach to societal problems, has had and will continue to have far-reaching consequences for the American govern mental system.