Week 2 Flashcards
What did Fuchs say about power?
That we should not back down from it and even have a civic obligation, sustainability imparitve and a justice prerequisite to ask, uncover and expose mechanisms of power
What is power?
The ability of actors to successfully pursue a desired political objective
3 types of power over
- Instrumental
- Structural
- Discursive
Instrumental power
direct influence on political outputs
Instrumental power concept
Ability to let people do something
Instrumental power key form influence
Policital lobbying
Instrumental power key source of influence
- Organizational and financial resources
- Channels of access and influence
- Policy relevant knowledge and expertis
What is the concept of revolving doors?
In America people from senior government positions often work as lobbyist afterwards
Structural power
Influence on the input side of political processes
Structural power 1 concept
Agenda-setting power
Structural power 1 key form of influence
implicit or explicit threat of relocation of investments
Structural power 1 key source of influence
- Level of market concentration
- Importance to economic growth, employment and innovation
- The dependence of politicians to get re-elected due to economic succes
Structural power 2 concept
Rule-setting power
Structural power 2 key form
Authority
Structural power 2 key sources
- Level of market concentration
- Void left by governments
- Consumer demand
- New norms and ideas in society
Possible solution to take away firms power?
Green eco labels
Discursive power
ability to frame norms and ideas
Discursive power concept
shape norms and ideas, creating new interests
Discursive power key forms
Communication on issues that can change peoples perspective, framing issues that need business involvement and solutions
Discursive power key sources
- Media time, advertisements, campaigns
- New media giants
Framing issues: the business case
If Target were to use solar panels than solar panels will become mainstream. It will be cheaper and easier accessible
Framing issues: framing themselves
Stating that governments can not fix the situation but businesses can
Power with
Joint act in solidarity, based on learning and cooperation (win-win situations)
Power to
Empowering individuals or groups to have agency and control over their own lives and decisions by giving them resources, knowledge and authority
Fragility of business power
Discursive power gives companies power but is also their achilles heel:
- Business is not a unitary actor
- Differences between large, medium and small businesses
- Vulnerability to scandals
- Vulnerability to changing norms and values
Structure-agency debate
Types of relations through which agents can bring about change or face structural constraints
Substantial agency
Actors with a transformational orientation and have the ability to takee action or to choose what action to take
Gridlock in environmental politics is completely incomprehensible
Being in favor is ultimately good for everyone. The structure of the regime will change and eventually they will win. However, it is not winning over someone but a win for everyone.
Types of agency
- Selfdetermined
- Individual
- Substantial
- Policy (strong notions on right and wrong)
4 faces of power
- Agent based - visible power (instrumental) (power to/with)
- Hidden power (structural)
- Invisible power (discursive)
- Unconsious power (the environment is an object of governance)
3 reasons why rule setting matters
- Exercise of power by business actors (design of rules: only big companies can dictate)
- Business set rules: affects all
- Rule setting by business: undermines public rule setting
Consumption corridors
Satisfying human needs and reducing demand for energy resources
3 things needed for just sustainability transitions
- Balance of power
- Decision making process
- Focus on ecological and social justice
Reasons no governance in food sector
- Power of the companies
- Lack of clear scientific consensus
- Weak and fragmented natur of regulatory frameworks
- The complex and distanced nature of the underlying drivers
Role of technology in food sector (2 ways)
Let the big firms do it: more chemicals and dependence of farmers
Let do small scale agro-ecological production methods
