"Conservation in conflict: Examining rural–urban discourse in wolf rein" by Kayla M. Gabehart
 

Conservation in conflict: Examining rural–urban discourse in wolf reintroduction policy in Colorado

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2025

Department

Department of Social Sciences

Abstract

Wolf reintroduction and management is a highly conflictual topic in both the United States and Europe, enflaming rural–urban tensions and pitting agriculture interests against environmentalists. This study examines the case of gray wolf reintroduction in Colorado. The reintroduction decision was decided by state popular vote on a citizen-introduced ballot initiative, Proposition 114, in 2020. While a majority of Coloradans voted in favor of reintroduction, this vote was almost exclusively divided along rural–urban geographic lines. To analyze these cleavages and the conflict therein, this study examines the changing coalitional discourse surrounding wolf reintroduction policy in Colorado. This study captures changes in the policy conflict from the beginning of 2020 when the ballot initiative to reintroduce gray wolves was first proposed, to the passage of that initiative on the November 2020 ballot, through the related legislative bills proposed in the spring of 2021 in an effort to maintain rural representation in the reintroduction process. This case utilizes the advocacy coalition framework (ACF) and emotion belief analysis (EBA) to analyze news media and legislative testimony.

Publication Title

Review of Policy Research

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