The lens of polycentricity: Identifying polycentric governance systems illustrated through examples from the field of water governance

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

  • Nadine Jenny Shirin Schröder

This paper discusses definitions that have been developed and used in the study of polycentric governance. It offers conceptual refinements with the aim of reducing fuzziness, showing challenges of operationalization and application to an empirical setting—in other words, analyzing governance arrangements through the polycentricity lens. One defining element of polycentricity is the presence of “multiple decision-making centers.” This paper shows that this multiplicity is specific to the good/problem in focus, the center's tasks/responsibilities, the level in focus and analytical system boundaries. Functional overlapping among those centers is required to consider centers forming one system in relation to a good. These specificities should be examined for comparisons on polycentricity influencing the functioning of systems. The paper applies those conceptual refinements to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in Berlin and Hamburg. It characterizes the two cases in terms of their polycentricity. It compares their functioning so far and how the latter relates to interactions and social interrelations. The polycentricity lens illuminates important features and differences: given an overall multiplicity of centers and a similar rule setting in both cities, the differences in the distribution of responsibilities and social interrelations led to a faster but less integrated implementation in Hamburg than in Berlin. The application of the proposed refinements yields insights into further work to be done in favor of theory-building on the functioning of polycentric governance systems.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftEnvironmental Policy and Governance
Jahrgang28
Ausgabenummer4
Seiten (von - bis)236-251
Anzahl der Seiten16
ISSN1756-932X
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 01.07.2018

DOI

Zuletzt angesehen

Publikationen

  1. Exemplary versus statistical evidence?
  2. Basin efficiency approach and its effect on streamflow quality, Zerafshan River Uzbekistan
  3. Motion-decoupled internal force control in grasping with visco-elastic contacts
  4. Six Steps towards a Spatial Design for Large-Scale Pollinator Surveillance Monitoring
  5. Controlling the Time Synchronicity of Convergent Supply Processes
  6. Learning to Rate Player Positioning in Soccer
  7. Structuring and advancing solution-oriented research for sustainability
  8. Modeling, Identification, and Control for Cyber-Physical Systems Towards Industry 4.0
  9. Computergestütztes Repetitorium der Elementarmathematik
  10. Realist Inquiry
  11. Microstructure by design
  12. "Was tun?"
  13. How Big Does Big Data Need to Be?
  14. Differences in adaptation to light and temperature extremes of Chlorella sorokiniana strains isolated from a wastewater lagoon
  15. Global Integration and Management of Professional Service Firms
  16. The significance of tree-tree interactions for forest ecosystem functioning
  17. Fines for Absuse of Dominance in "High tech" Markets
  18. Quand la mémoire devient image de souvenier
  19. How to Assess Knowledge Cumulation in Environmental Governance Research? Conceptual and Empirical Explorations
  20. Qualitative system analysis as a means for sustainable governance of emerging technologies
  21. New ways in engineering education for a sustainable and smart future
  22. Cognitive load and science text comprehension
  23. Learning Analytics an Hochschulen
  24. The case survey method and applications in political science