Mapping Complexity in Environmental Governance: A comparative analysis of 37 priority issues in German water management
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In: Environmental Policy and Governance, Vol. 27, No. 6, 01.11.2017, p. 534 - 559.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Mapping Complexity in Environmental Governance
T2 - A comparative analysis of 37 priority issues in German water management
AU - Kirschke, Sabrina
AU - Borchardt, Dietrich
AU - Newig, Jens
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - Environmental governance regularly has to cope with complex problems. However, 'complexity' has mostly been used as a heuristic concept and hardly made operable for empirical research. Drawing on psychological research on complex problem solving, we propose a structured operationalization of complexity in the five dimensions of (1) goals, (2) variables, (3) dynamics, (4) interconnectedness and (5) information uncertainty. Based on 65 semi-standardized expert interviews and 158 assessments of complexity degrees, we analyse and map 37 water-related problems in Germany with regard to their complexity. We find that these problems tend to exhibit medium degrees of complexity, based on 30 types of argument for complexity. Our analysis also reveals varying degrees of complexity and delineates the various natural, technical and social sources of complexity. Our approach and the results may facilitate more systematic discussion of governance strategies for complex problem solving across environmental policy fields and scales.
AB - Environmental governance regularly has to cope with complex problems. However, 'complexity' has mostly been used as a heuristic concept and hardly made operable for empirical research. Drawing on psychological research on complex problem solving, we propose a structured operationalization of complexity in the five dimensions of (1) goals, (2) variables, (3) dynamics, (4) interconnectedness and (5) information uncertainty. Based on 65 semi-standardized expert interviews and 158 assessments of complexity degrees, we analyse and map 37 water-related problems in Germany with regard to their complexity. We find that these problems tend to exhibit medium degrees of complexity, based on 30 types of argument for complexity. Our analysis also reveals varying degrees of complexity and delineates the various natural, technical and social sources of complexity. Our approach and the results may facilitate more systematic discussion of governance strategies for complex problem solving across environmental policy fields and scales.
KW - Complex problem solving
KW - European Water Framework Directive
KW - Point and non-point source pollution
KW - Water governance
KW - Wicked problems
KW - Sustainability Science
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031686557&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/eet.1778
DO - 10.1002/eet.1778
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85031686557
VL - 27
SP - 534
EP - 559
JO - Environmental Policy and Governance
JF - Environmental Policy and Governance
SN - 1756-932X
IS - 6
ER -