Environmental governance theories: a review and application to coastal systems

Ecology and Society

Maarten Bavinck¹  Lisa P. Sousa²  Kristof Van Assche³  Andrew M. Song⁴  Jeremy B. Pittman⁵  Natașa Văidianu⁶  Anna-Katharina Hornidge⁷  Rebecca L. Gruby⁸  Keith Carlisle⁸  Achim Schlüter⁹  Stefan Partelow⁹  Martin Le Tissier^1,10  Derek Armitage^1,11 

[1] Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Portugal;Department of Earth & Atmospheric Science, University of Alberta, Canada;Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Australia;Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Canada;Faculty of Natural Sciences and Agricultural Sciences, Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania;German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Germany;Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA;Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany;MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland;School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Canada;

关键词: collaborative governance;    comanagement;    land-sea;    marine;    natural resource governance;    natural resource management;    transdisciplinarity;    watershed;    wetland;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-12067-250419

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This article synthesizes and compares environmental governance theories. For each theory we outline its main tenets, claims, origin, and supporting literature. We then group the theories into focused versus combinatory frameworks for comparison. The analysis resonates with many types of ecosystems; however, to make it more tangible, we focus on coastal systems. First, we characterize coastal governance challenges and then later link salient research questions arising from these challenges to the theories that may be useful in answering them.Our discussion emphasizes the usefulness of having a diverse theoretical toolbox, and we argue that if governance analysts are more broadly informed about the theories available, they may more easily engage in open-minded interdisciplinary collaboration. The eight theories examined are the following: polycentricity, network governance, multilevel governance, collective action, governmentality (power / knowledge), adaptive governance, interactive governance theory (IGT), and evolutionary governance theory (EGT). Polycentricity and network governance both help examine the links or connections in governance processes. Polycentricity emphasizes structural configurations at a broader level, and network governance highlights agency and information flow within and between individuals or organizations. Collective action theory is helpful for examining community level governance, and helps analyze variables hindering or enabling self-organization and shared resource outcomes. In contrast, multilevel governance helps understand governance integration processes between localities, regions, and states across administrative, policy, or legal dimensions. Governmentality is helpful for understanding the role of discourse, power, knowledge, and narratives in governance, such as who creates them and who becomes governed by them with what effect. Adaptive governance helps analyze the links between context, change, and resilience. IGT helps examine the interdependencies between the systems being governed and the governing systems. EGT is helpful for unpacking how coevolutionary processes shape governance and the options for change.

【 授权许可】

Unknown