Understanding inclusion in collaborative governance: a mixed methods approach

Who should be included in collaborative governance and how they should be included is an important topic, though the dynamics of inclusion are not yet well understood. We propose a conceptual model to shape the empirical analysis of what contributes to inclusion in collaborative processes. We propose that incentives, mutual interdependence and trust are important preconditions of inclusion, but that active inclusion management also matters a great deal. We also hypothesize that inclusion is strategic, with ‘selective activation’ of participants depending on functional and pragmatic choices. Drawing on cases from the Collaborative Governance Case Databank, we used a mixed method approach to analyse our model. We found support for the model, and particularly for the central importance of active inclusion management.Fil: Ansell, Christopher. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: Doberstein, Carey. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Henderson, Hayley. The Australian National University; Australia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro de Estudios Urbanos y Regionales; ArgentinaFil: Siddiki, Saba. Syracuse University; Estados UnidosFil: ‘t Hart, Paul. Utrecht University; Países Bajo

Governing by Networks: the Policy Implications of Civil Society Participation in Decision Making

Why has Vancouver developed and implemented more effective homelessness policy in the last 20 years than Toronto, despite sharing similar homelessness challenges? Finding that none of the traditional theories for policy divergence--such as executive and council leadership, local political institutions or ideational paradigms--adequately explain the policy variation, this dissertation identifies one key difference in the two cities: the properties and dynamics of homelessness governance networks--where state and civil society actors jointly craft policy. Through empirical analysis involving archival research, interviews, extended participant observation, and quantitative decision making data, the study finds that highly institutionalized and inclusive governance networks in Vancouver are largely responsible for the superior policy innovation and coordination over the past twenty years. The research then breaks new theoretical terrain by specifying and modeling the causal mechanisms that link network governance to public policy outputs, establishing that `brokerage' and `persuasion' are the key emergent dynamics from governance networks as deliberative systems of policymaking. The theory-building bridges the metagovernance, network governance, and deliberative democracy bodies of literature to construct a generalized and falsifiable model linking network governance to policy outputs that can be applied across a number of policy domains.Ph.D

Venue Coupling and Actor Circulation in Deliberative Systems: Health Care Governance in Ontario

The “systemic turn” has been one of the most important developments in deliberative democracy in the past decade. Through a deliberative systems approach, scholars and practitioners are challenged to think about ways in which various venues and institutions interact together to produce a healthy democratic subsystem. One major challenge to this approach, however, is its methodological weakness. How exactly are various venues and institutions connected? How do they interact with each other? What conceptual tools are available in making sense of the deliberative system? This article proposes the use of “venue coupling” and “actor circulation” to operationalize some of the key concepts of the deliberative system. Through the case of the Local Health Integration Networks in Ontario, Canada, this article maps the governance system, its institutional and interpersonal components, and their interconnections (or lack thereof). By drawing together key concepts in deliberative democracy and network governance, this article sketches out a framework that can be used to analyze governance contexts in which deliberative practices are fused with traditional political institutions like legislative bodies and bureaucracies

Demand-side management of residential water use in Vancouver

This study considers policy alternatives that the City of Vancouver could explore to encourage water conservation among residential water users. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, the study identifies the factors that influence per capita residential water demands in Canadian cities and the relevant policy instruments applied to encourage water conservation. Primary data sources are Environment Canada surveys of municipal water systems and case studies from the United States of best practices with respect to water conservation. The data analysis reveals that the price of water, metering, educational conservation policies, and non-price incentives are significant factors affecting per capita residential water demand. Following that, this study proposes and assesses policies to reform water management in Vancouver. Policy recommendations to the city include: (i) introducing a universal water metering programme and (ii) applying increasing block rate pricing to encourage water conservation among the public