220 research outputs found
Burgercooperaties: Speler of speelbal in de nieuwe verhoudingen tussen overheid, markt en samenleving
Burgers hebben in Nederland het afgelopen decennium in allerlei sectoren initiatieven ontwikkeld en coöperaties opgericht om zelf voorzieningen en diensten tot stand te brengen en te beheren. Kennelijk slagen overheid en markt er onvoldoende in om in bepaalde behoeften en daarmee samenhangende waarden van burgers leven te voorzien. Hoewel burgercoöperaties jonge organisaties zijn die zichzelf grotendeels nog moeten bewijzen, zijn de koplopers een bron van inspiratie, innovatie en navolging. Tegelijk kunnen we constateren dat er weinig kennis beschikbaar is over deze nieuwe organisatievorm. Het ontbreekt tot nu toe aan empirische sectorstudies en een systematische vergelijking.
Dit themanummer inventariseert en vergelijkt the state of art van burgercoöperaties op het terrein van energie, zorg, breedband en wonen. Hoe effectief en duurzaam zijn burgercoöperaties en hoe verhouden ze zich tot overheden, marktpartijen en maatschappelijke organisaties? De vergelijkende analyse laat zien dat burgercoöperaties moeten leren om te gaan met de spanning tussen het streven naar zelfbeheer en de behoefte tot professionalisering. Ook moeten ze leren samen te werken met andere partijen in hun omgeving. Coöperaties moeten leren het spel mee te spelen zodat zij geen speelbal van andere partijen worden
Democracy and governance networks: compatible or not?
The relationship between representative democracy and governance networks is investigated
at a theoretical level. Four conjectures about the relationship are defined. The
incompatibility conjectures rests on the primacy of politics and sees governance networks as a
threat. The complementarity conjecture presents governance networks as a means of enabling
greater participation in the policy process and sensitivity in programme implementation. The
transitional conjecture posits a wider evolution of governance forms towards network
relationships. The instrumental conjecture views governance networks as a powerful means
through which dominant interests can achieve their goals. Illustrative implications for theory
and practice are identified, in relation to power in the policy process, the public interest, and
the role of public managers. The heuristic potential of the conjectures is demonstrated
through the identification of an outline research agenda
The Effects of Media and their Logic on Legitimacy Sources within Local Governance Networks: A Three-Case Comparative Study
__Abstract__
Although theoretical and empirical work on the democratic legitimacy of
governance networks is growing, little attention has been paid to the impact of mediatisation
on democracies. Media have their own logic of news-making led by the media’s rules,
aims, production routines and constraints, which affect political decision-making processes.
In this article, we specifically study how media and their logic affect three
democratic legitimacy sources of political decision-making within governance networks:
voice, due deliberation and accountability. We conducted a comparative case study of
three local governance networks using a mixed method design, combining extensive
qualitative case studies, interviews and a quantitative content analysis of media reports.
In all three cases, media logic increased voice possibilities for citizen groups.
Furthermore, it broadened the deliberation process, although this did not improve the
quality of this process per se, because the media focus on drama and negativity. Finally,
media logic often pushed political authorities into a reactive communication style as they
had to fight against negative images in the media. Proactive communication about
projects, such as public relation (PR) strategies and branding, is difficult in such a
media landscape
Assessing public leadership styles for innovation:A comparison of Copenhagen, Rotterdam and Barcelona
This article explores which leadership qualities public managers regard as important for public innovation. It is based on a survey of 365 senior public managers in Copenhagen, Rotterdam and Barcelona. Five perspectives on leadership were identified and tested using a number of items. Some of these proved to be more robust than others. Analysis of the three cities reveals a nuanced set of leadership styles, which include a transformational style, and one that is more dedicated to motivating employees, risk-taking and including others in decision-making. This suggests the need for more research on leadership and public-sector innovation
Water Managers' Boundary Judgments and Adaptive Water Governance. An Analysis of the Dutch Haringvliet Sluices Case
__Abstract__
In this paper, we explore how managing actors' boundary judgments influence the adaptability of water governance. We approach this question by examining the relationship between the way water managers frame, and act in, complex water issues on the one hand and develop adaptive water governance strategies on the other. We define four categories of boundary judgments made by water managers in order to deal with the complexities in water governance issues. An in-depth case study analysis of an attempt to adjust the management of the water regime in the south-west Delta of the Netherlands is provided in order to reconstruct the water managers' boundary judgments and their impact upon governance strategies used. We found that, most of the time, the water managers involved predominantly made tight boundary judgments. These tight boundary judgments seemed to hamper the mutual learning process among a variety of stakeholders that is needed to realize adaptive water governance. We argue that wide boundary judgments enhance the chance of realizing adaptive practices and build upon exploration, learning, and connection
Collaborative futures:discursive realignments in austere times
This paper explores the future of collaboration in an era of austerity. Boundary object theory provides a framework to examine the significance and role of four key discourses in collaboration – efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness and cultural performance. Crisis provides a way of examining how and in what ways discourses realign. The exploration of discourses aids critical analysis of collaboration across sectoral, geographical and disciplinary boundaries, highlighting the importance of understanding the contextual roots of collaboration theory and practice, and the implications of local/global dynamics
Governance, Coordination and Evaluation: the case for an epistemological focus and a return to C.E. Lindblom
While much political science research focuses on conceptualizing and analyzing various forms of governance, there remains a need to develop frameworks and criteria for governance evaluation (Torfing et al 2012). The post-positivist turn, influential in recent governance theory, emphasizes the complexity, uncertainty and the contested normative dimensions of policy analysis. Yet a central evaluative question still arises concerning the capacity of governance networks to facilitate ‘coordination’. The classic contributions of Charles Lindblom, although pre-dating the contemporary governance literature, can enable further elaboration of and engagement with this question. Lindblom’s conceptualisation of coordination challenges in the face of complexity shares with post-positivism a recognition of the inevitably contested nature of policy goals. Yet Lindblom suggests a closer focus on the complex, dynamically evolving, broadly ‘economic’ choices and trade-offs involved in defining and delivery policy for enabling these goals to be achieved and the significant epistemological challenges that they raise for policy-makers. This focus can complement and enrich both post-positivist scholarship and the process and incentives-orientated approaches which predominate in contemporary political science research on coordination in governance. This is briefly illustrated through a short case study evaluating governance for steering markets towards delivering low and zero carbon homes in England
Trust in governance networks: Its impacts on outcomes
__Abstract__
Governance networks are characterized by complex interaction and decision making, and much uncertainty. Surprisingly, there is very little research on the impact of trust in achieving results in governance networks. This article asks two questions: (a) Does trust influence the outcomes of environmental projects? and (b) Does active network management improve the level of trust in networks? The study is based on a Web-based survey of respondents involved in environmental projects. The results indicate that trust does matter for perceived outcomes and that network management strategies enhance the level of trust
- …