TY - JOUR

T1 - The framing of power in climate change adaptation research

AU - Woroniecki, Stephen

AU - Krüger, Ruth

AU - Rau, Anna Lena

AU - Preuss, Maren Stefanie

AU - Baumgartner, Nora

AU - Raggers, Sanne

AU - Niessen, Laura

AU - Holländer, Lars

AU - Beyers, Felix

AU - Rathgens, Julius

AU - Wagner, Kai Christian

AU - Habigt, Lisa

AU - Krause, Torsten

AU - Wamsler, Christine

AU - von Wehrden, Henrik

AU - Abson, David

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - Power mechanisms and structures shape climate change adaptation outcomes, the measures adopted, and who is identified as requiring adaptation support. But to what extent does research recognize such power-adaptation linkages? Based on a systematic literature review, we enquire if and how the framing of power matters for adaptation research and what the implications may be for practice. Our enquiry is predicated on the relationship between the researcher and the research focus being itself a relationship of power. Since power is complex and a single definition is not desirable, different actor-orientated frames of power were used for the data analysis. The results show that authors are more likely to work with issues of power to (i.e., agency), power over, and empowerment, rather than resistance or disempowerment. Demonstrating the effect of such frames, these proportions change according to whether the research focuses on equity, effectiveness, or participation. For instance, power to is strongly associated with effectiveness, while disempowerment is associated more with equity. Together with other identified patterns, our review shows that researchers frame power in adaptation in ways that constitute biases and blind spots. Attention to particular frames of power can limit attention to important dynamics within adaptation processes. Both the content and context to which the identified frames are applied suggest structural trends in adaptation research that require increased attention. Since researchers' frames of power influence both research outcomes and broader adaptation-power relations, the results indicate that reflexivity is needed to improve both adaptation research and practice. This article is categorized under: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation.

AB - Power mechanisms and structures shape climate change adaptation outcomes, the measures adopted, and who is identified as requiring adaptation support. But to what extent does research recognize such power-adaptation linkages? Based on a systematic literature review, we enquire if and how the framing of power matters for adaptation research and what the implications may be for practice. Our enquiry is predicated on the relationship between the researcher and the research focus being itself a relationship of power. Since power is complex and a single definition is not desirable, different actor-orientated frames of power were used for the data analysis. The results show that authors are more likely to work with issues of power to (i.e., agency), power over, and empowerment, rather than resistance or disempowerment. Demonstrating the effect of such frames, these proportions change according to whether the research focuses on equity, effectiveness, or participation. For instance, power to is strongly associated with effectiveness, while disempowerment is associated more with equity. Together with other identified patterns, our review shows that researchers frame power in adaptation in ways that constitute biases and blind spots. Attention to particular frames of power can limit attention to important dynamics within adaptation processes. Both the content and context to which the identified frames are applied suggest structural trends in adaptation research that require increased attention. Since researchers' frames of power influence both research outcomes and broader adaptation-power relations, the results indicate that reflexivity is needed to improve both adaptation research and practice. This article is categorized under: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation.

KW - Environmental planning

KW - climate change adaptation

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - adaptive capacity

KW - frames

KW - power

KW - vulnerability

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071416152&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/wcc.617

DO - 10.1002/wcc.617

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:85071416152

VL - 10

JO - Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change

JF - Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change

SN - 1757-7780

IS - 6

M1 - e617

ER -