Editorial: Governance for Sustainable Development in the Face of Ambivalence, Uncertainty and Distributed Power: an Introduction
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In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, Vol. 9, No. 3-4, 01.09.2007, p. 185-192.
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Editorial: Governance for Sustainable Development in the Face of Ambivalence, Uncertainty and Distributed Power: an Introduction
AU - Newig, Jens
AU - Voß, Jan-Peter
AU - Monstadt, Jochen
PY - 2007/9/1
Y1 - 2007/9/1
N2 - Three fundamental observations on the contemporary debate on governance and steering for sustainable development are outlined. First, sustainable development as a highly normative, yet extremely vague concept inescapably raises issues of governance and political steering. Second, the many contributions, approaching sustainability governance from multiple angles, have in common that they assume sustainability goals to a certain extent as given. Third, sustainability poses specific challenges to governance that are different from other policy fields. In this context, exiting contributions highlight issues of complexity, uncertainty or ambivalence, albeit in a rather cursory manner. Against this background, a specific approach is introduced, exploring the complexities that arise from limits to rational steering in three dimensions: Sustainability goals are ambivalent in that they are subject to controversies based on heterogeneous perceptions, values and interests of individuals and societal groups. Moreover, the knowledge of the complex dynamics involving society, technology and nature typically remains highly uncertain. Finally, the power to shape structural change in society and technology is distributed across a multitude of actors and societal subsystems. The article concludes by outlining the structure of the present collection of papers and by summarising each contribution.
AB - Three fundamental observations on the contemporary debate on governance and steering for sustainable development are outlined. First, sustainable development as a highly normative, yet extremely vague concept inescapably raises issues of governance and political steering. Second, the many contributions, approaching sustainability governance from multiple angles, have in common that they assume sustainability goals to a certain extent as given. Third, sustainability poses specific challenges to governance that are different from other policy fields. In this context, exiting contributions highlight issues of complexity, uncertainty or ambivalence, albeit in a rather cursory manner. Against this background, a specific approach is introduced, exploring the complexities that arise from limits to rational steering in three dimensions: Sustainability goals are ambivalent in that they are subject to controversies based on heterogeneous perceptions, values and interests of individuals and societal groups. Moreover, the knowledge of the complex dynamics involving society, technology and nature typically remains highly uncertain. Finally, the power to shape structural change in society and technology is distributed across a multitude of actors and societal subsystems. The article concludes by outlining the structure of the present collection of papers and by summarising each contribution.
KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication
KW - policy
KW - political steering
KW - complexity
KW - socio-technical transitions
KW - reflexive governance
KW - innovations
KW - participation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=51049104848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/332af2ba-c249-3b34-8d5f-aef7ecb6c6d6/
U2 - 10.1080/15239080701622832
DO - 10.1080/15239080701622832
M3 - Scientific review articles
VL - 9
SP - 185
EP - 192
JO - Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning
JF - Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning
SN - 1523-908X
IS - 3-4
ER -