Environmental Governance and Decision-Making Flashcards
What does S-E stand for?
Social - Ecological
What is Armitages argument toward government and governance?
“Governments are no longer the most important source of decision making in the environmental field”.
What makes governance so difficult?
Social - Ecological Systems
What makes governance different than government?
- Governance involves interaction between formal institutions of government and civil society.
- Informal groups, perhaps who are less organized.
- Broader involvement, influences, interests than that of simply “the government”.
Define governance:
It is the process of interactions through the laws, social norms, power or language as structured in communication of an organized society over a social system.
Can governance systems involve legislation, regulation, policies, and guidelines?
Yes
What are the 5 forms of governance?
- International Agreements / Accords
- National Police’s & Legislation
- Local decision-making structures
- Transnational Networks
- Civil Society Involvement
What are the 5 Idealized Governance Forms?
- Civil Society
- Co-operative
- Market-based
- Regulatory
- Self-organizing
What are the two models of Governance suggested by Armitage?
Protectionist vs. Human Centered
What does the Protectionist model of governance include?
Top-down, regulatory
Centralized
Command and Control
What does the Human-centered model of governance include?
Bottom-up
Decentralized
Collaborative
Define a Stakeholder:
A person or group directly affected by or with an interest in a decision, or with responsibility and authority relative to a decision.
What are some ways a Stakeholder can be classified?
o Any level or position in society
o Global-local (E.g., households)
o Marginalized
What are some limitations of stakeholders?
- Some people are rights holders (I.e., Indigenous communities), term often used by corporate governments, people may not recognize that they are a stakeholder.
- Marginalized groups may not be organized in a manner that calls for the action of a stakeholder.
How is the role of a stakeholder determined?
- Role of responsibility relative to decision-making
- Who has authority to act / address issues.
Who often represents communities?
As Stakeholders
How are communities characterized?
Size, value, social norms, resource dependence, etc.
What do Stakeholders represent?
Interest or ‘stake’ in decision & outcome effects & includes parties with legal authority and responsibility regarding the decision.
What is an example of a global stakeholder?
International agencies, foreign governments, environmental lobbies, etc.
Where do you draw the line of Stakeholder vs. Rightsholder?
Based on a view of rights you were born with, vs., a developed interest.
How can conflict be productive?
Constructive conflict can indicate when something isn’t working in a social system (I.e., Protests, critiques, questions, etc.), can be considered a signal for change.
Describe the Protectionist model of governance:
Creating protected areas, to keep people out and protect nature from people. Seeks to control, separate and isolate.
What does it mean to have a Centralized model?
- One central decision-making body, power is not dispersed among several groups. Power is concentrated in one ‘central’ group.
- If it is happening in one place and affects a large span of people, the context, and interests of people in other places may be different.
What does “Command-and-Control” mean?
“Doing what you are told”, this mindset refers to how westerners tend to treat the environment, believing we have full control of our surroundings.
Define the Human-centered model of governance:
Opposite to the Protectionist view, where this view considers the needs of people as one more group of species inhabiting the land-space. This model of governance has begun to shift to a human-centered perspective.
What does bottom-up mean?
Citizens, local farmers, etc., concerned about water quality and bring those concerns to the RM or low-level government, and sharing the concern with higher levels of government.
Why is a Decentralized system in governance preferred?
Decentralization is favoured because it supports subsidiarity.
- One principle of sustainability is those who are affected majorly by something, they should have a greater decision-making authority over said concern.
What are some drawbacks of a decentralized structure in governance?
- There is a challenge of coordination in a decentralized model, a shared course of action needs to be determined.
- Groups are too separated to collaborate to develop decision-making.
What does it mean to have a “Collaborative” structure in governance?
Multi-party involvement
What is the primary goal of a Stakeholder?
A goal of community stakeholder involvement is to balance inequalities; “Level playing field”.
What is an Active Stakeholder?
Those who seek participation
What is a Passive Stakeholder?
Those who do not normally seek to participate in an organisation’s policy making.
What is an Importance vs. Influence Stakeholder?
Importance: Those whose needs and interests are priorities”
Influence: Power certain stakeholders have over project success.
What does section A of the “Influence v. Importance” graph represent?
Interest: Has interest
Influence: Has little influence
What does section B of the “Influence v. Importance” graph represent?
Interest: High interest
Influence: High Influence
What does section C of the “Influence v. Importance” graph represent?
Interest: Low Interest
Influence: High influence
What does section D of the “Influence v. Importance” graph represent?
Interest: Low interest
Influence: Low influence
True or False: Lockwood et al., principles are strict and cannot be changed.
False, they are meant to be adjusted to different contexts and to specific goals.
Define Governance in Multi-level Collaborative settings:
The interactions among structures, processes and traditions that determine how power and responsibilities are exercised, how decisions are taken, and how citizens or other stakeholders (& rightsholders) have their say.
True or False: The tests for legitimacy may be different for a top-down approach vs. bottom-up.
True.
What are Lockwood et al.’s argument?
Collaboration and involvement of public, private, and civic interests
What is the incentive for Lockwood et al.’s NRM?
Lack of principles available
Demand for collaboration and coordination
What is the meaning Lockwood et al.’s paper?
Natural Resource Management (NRM) at a catchment or landscape scale (Immediate, site-specific needs)
What are Lockwood et al.’s two main arguments?
- Moving towards collaboration and involvement of public, private, and civic interests.
- A “new governance” designed amid a “discourse of sustainability” that incorporates calls for civic duty, participation, and stewardship ideals.
What is the primary focus for Lockwood et al.’s framework?
Catchment or landscape scale (Forestry, agriculture, tourism & water)
What is the purpose for Principles in NRM?
- for design & assessment
- form of normative statements
regarding how governance should
occur i.e., how people should use
their power - for 13 NRM regional organizations in
Australia
What is Adaptive Capacity?
Adjusting of characteristics or behaviour, in order to expand its coping range under existing climate variability, or future climate conditions.
What are the 4 ways to prepare for changes in governance structures?
- Anticipation
- Long-term Orientation
- Vision of Sustainability
- Foster organizational cultures of learning and experimentation.
Why is modularity important to NRM?
IT is the ability to change things.
Because If something is not working, you can change the structure. It is not out of commission if the system does not work.
What are the 6 steps of the Adaptive Management Process?
- Assess the issue
- Knowledge
- Identify Uncertainties
- Implement
- Monitor
- Evaluate
What other process does the Adaptive Management process mirror?
Policy process
What is Participatory Governance?
Giving the people who are affected by the effects of a decision being involved in the process of making decisions, I.e., stakeholders.
What is there a growing need for in NRM?
- Science (biophysical and social)
- Local experience
- Indigenous peoples
What are the 4 challenges to governance and decentralization?
- Erosion of broad democratic process
- Local elitism
- Accountability and Legitimacy
- Lack of Attention to public good
What is the 8 step process to Principle Development?
- Legitimacy
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Inclusiveness
- Fairness
- Integration
- Capability
- Adaptability
How is legitimacy a part of the Principle Development process?
Authority to govern given by democratic law and / or earned from stakeholders.
What is Transparency also viewed as from a governance perspective?
Visibility in the decision-making process.
How is Accountability a part of the Principle Development process?
Allocation and acceptance of responsibility for decisions and actions.
How is Inclusiveness a part of the Principle Development process?
To remain accountable, you need to be collaborative and inclusive.
How is Fairness a part of the Principle Development process?
Respect and attention given to all stakeholder views / needs.
How is Integration a part of the Principle Development process?
Integration can be achieved by ensuring connections and coordination across / between cross-scale connectedness.
Which of the 8 principles of principle development focuses on cross-scale connectedness?
Integration (6)
How is Capability a part of the Principle Development process?
Systems, plans, resources, skills, leadership, knowledge, and experiences that enable organizations, and the individuals who direct, manage, and work for them, to effectively deliver on their responsibilities.
What is the Capability principle of Principle Development also considered as?
Capacity
How is Adaptability a part of the Principle Development process?
Ongoing learning & use of knowledge to inform decisions and implementation.
What are the 8 principles of NRM intended for?
Principles intended to provide normative guidance (ideals) in complex & uncertain multi-level governance settings.
