Building blocks of polycentric governance

Success or failure of a polycentric system is function complex political and social processes, such as coordination between actors venues to solve specialized policy problems. Yet there currently no accepted method for isolating distinct processes coordination, nor understand how their variance affects governance performance. We develop test building-blocks approach that uses different patterns “motifs” measuring comparing longitudinally on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Our confirms comprises an evolving substrate interdependent over time. However, while issue specialization actor participation can be improved through the mobilization venues, strategy also fragment overall capacity resolve conflict adapt new A advances understanding practice by enabling sharper diagnosis internal dynamics in environmental systems. 多中心系统的成败取决于复杂的政治过程与社会过程, 例如行动者和场所之间 的协调（用于解决专门的政策问题）。不过, 目前既没有公认的方法来分离不同 的协调过程, 也没有公认的方法来理解协调过程的差异如何影响多中心治理绩。 效。我们提出并测试了一种构建块方法, 该方法使用不同的模式或“图案”来 衡量和比较澳大利亚大堡礁的纵向协调。我们的方法证实, 随着时间的推移, 多中心治理包括一种不断发展的、由相互依存的决策安排和行动者组成的基础。不 过, 尽管可以通过新的决策安排来改善问题专业化和行动者参与, 但这种策略也能 分散用于解决冲突和适应新问题的多中心整体能力。构建块方法通过驱动复杂 环境治理系统中更清晰的内部动态诊断, 进而促进对多中心治理的理解和实践。 El éxito o el fracaso de un sistema policéntrico es una función procesos políticos y sociales complejos, como la coordinación entre actores los acuerdos toma decisiones para resolver problemas política especializados. Sin embargo, actualmente existe método aceptado aislar distintos coordinación, ni comprender cómo su variación afecta desempeño gobernanza policéntrica. Desarrollamos probamos enfoque bloques construcción que utiliza diferentes patrones "motifs" medir comparar longitudinalmente en Gran Barrera Coral Australia. Nuestro confirma policéntrica comprende sustrato evolución interdependientes lo largo del tiempo. si bien especialización temas participación se pueden mejorar través movilización denuevos arreglos decisiones, dicha estrategia también puede fragmentar capacidad general conflictos adaptarse nuevos problemas. Un avanza comprensión práctica al permitir diagnóstico más preciso dinámica interna sistemas complejos ambiental. Global sustainability depends multiscale (Clark & Harley, 2020). many struggle coordinate organize across diverse goals sustainable development. growing interest collaborative governance, regime complexes, polycentricity reflects this phenomenon (Jordan et al., 2015; Lemos Agrawal, 2006; Morin 2017). The concept polycentricity, particular, often presented key resolving social-ecological challenges (Biggs 2012; Ostrom, 2012). Scholars politics, commons studies describe self-organizing multiple coordinating decision-making issues Kim, 2019; Yet, translating into theory has mostly eluded scholarship, which remains characterized abstract conceptual claims without concomitant empirical measurements, over-emphasis snapshot case studies, lack counterfactuals (Heikkila Weible, 2018; Jordan 2018). Participants with polycentricity. Reef (GBR) regime, oversees world's largest coral reef ecosystem (spanning 348,000 km2, approximately area Germany Malaysia), critical example. GBR's highly regarded distinguished structure advanced since 1975 consequence national (Australian) state (Queensland) law, international oversight (UNESCO), public participation, diversity other multi-actor, multilevel relationships involving joint rules, formal informal partnerships, projects, knowledge sharing (Day, 2017; Morrison, Olsson 2008). In recent years, health declined (Hughes 2019), have struggled generally agreed counteract deliberate industrial strategies designed undermine around rising stressors land-based pollution climate change (Lubell 2021; Morrison Deeper interrogation systems like needed because success these interaction social, economic, they represent. current empirically describing analyzing makes it difficult interrogate ongoing assumptions about These include, example, various forms effectiveness (Bergsten Bodin 2022). Ideas pertains human agency self-organized - collective action rooted legitimacy homophily (Jasny 2019) require further To achieve goals, researchers decision makers need better changes time place effects paper, we suggest core constitutive elements are driven actors. Following Urwin (2008) Metz al. (2020), define broadly productive among (within outside government) (and venues) formed address (Box 1). Self-organization emergent idealized quality assumed lead outcomes both shapes shaped (Boonstra Boelens, 2011; 1994; Peters, 2015). Polycentricity defined here comprised actors, issues, them It broken down following measurable elements: Governance actors: Actors individuals organizations influence stake issue(s), affected decisions those (Angst government official, resource user groups, scientists consultants, advocacy journalists, members public. Sometimes government-affiliated venue regulatory commission but important remember not all (Scharpf, 1997). Decision-making venues: necessary unit any venue, space authority design adopt policies implement them. sense, similar situation where engage each interactions initiate actions (McGinnis, 2011). Venues serve concerns, addressing conflicts disputes. Examples include legislatures, commissions, city councils, intergovernmental fora (Hedlund 2020; Fischer Leifeld, Policy issues: Polycentric draw together is, topical areas problems address, affect, both. Issues specific vary terms salience complexity. typically draws relevant (e.g., Reef). partition sub-issues one more might fisheries regulation, water management, adaptation) (Eshbaugh-Soha, 2006). Relationship types: feature types via actors' involvement than affecting decisions, issues. nature wide-ranging. condition affect institutional rules and/or decisions. overlap biophysical relationships. Additionally, overlap. For seek which, turn, (Pedercini 2019). relations formalized. They cooperation, knowledge-sharing, healthy conflict, competition) unproductive marginalization, exclusion, stalemate) nonexistent (Ostrom 1961). emphasis paper overarching relationship type (which term ‘coordination’ encompass ways work described above). Building blocks: blocks motifs combinations comprise minimal constellations (Bodin Tengö, Dey Leventon used identify recurring (Falkner 2010; Stewart 2013). At beginning millennium, was still throes decentralization collaboration wave (Lemos Dozens countries transnational decentralized democratized pursue gains efficiency, justice, accountability (Andersson 2010, evidence indicated were panacea Rapid increasingly change, including globalization, neoliberal modes policymaking, diversified polity, called kind focusing responses at scales. Analysts variously multilevel, networked, fragmented, 2008; Biermann 2009). Out these, its defining features purported self-organization mutual adjustment best encapsulated trend (Morrison, Regarded logical alternative bottom-up top-down systems, been conceptualized consisting centers interacting within scales shared goal (Polanyi, 1951). Proponents claim facilitates equal representation from encourages innovation diffusion, supports flexibility rapid reconfiguration networks allows specialization, division tasks central, regional, local levels, subsidiarity, tailoring interventions local-regional circumstances community preferences, thus improving efficiency matching context scale problem (Morrison Many analysts regard robust high degree redundancy means if part fails, others may take functions (Carlisle Gruby, addition, causal factors symptoms contemporary problems, levels uncertainty range solutions, conclusive answers who responsible solution mean approaches impossible. reasons, risen serious working regimes, REDD+ global biodiversity regimes Today, scholars non-linear, processes; axiom policy, sustainability, complexity sciences (Cudworth Hobden, Recent begun exploring (Huitema Lubell 2021). Indeed, now struggling deal risks perspectives emerging Documented fragmentation, low transparency, transaction costs, incoherence, gridlock, unanticipated effects, inequities, freeloading, ultimate compliance implementation (Gallemore, Sovacool Sunderlin New archival textual analyses, shown necessarily mask generate fatigue stagnation, decrease (Fisher Hileman Bodin, claimed fraught paradoxes assumptions, some large gaps remain therefore move nebulous solid change. Contemporary Institutional Analysis Development (IAD) scholars, caution utility diagnostic description (Aligica Tarko, Andersson realization generalizable principles proven discrete sets static, homogenous, tightly-bounded (Epstein contrast, characterize less boundaries ‘regime complex’ (Keohane Victor, 2011) costs benefits manageable nonhierarchical steering ‘orchestration’ (Abbott 2016). orchestration extend focus beyond inter-state sub-national level, bureaucracies, official realm governmental corporations, non-profits) (Green Auld, targeted wicked settings, insights learning, bargaining (Berardo Lubell, 2013; Ecology Games Framework (EGF), targets drivers, mechanisms, settings using multi-level network (Lubell, EGF posits represent three emerge combination participating forums, interests particular assignment jurisdictions. Empirical results time, cycle cooperation Robbins, despite advances, research normative concepts descriptive single point assessing functional black box. yet establish have, therefore, tension extent rather themselves (Biermann 2009; theoretical progress constrained account gamut governing will type, purpose, intensity (Galaz Longitudinal matters, Addressing interrogating dependent 2020), eventually leads efficient legitimate Bergsten Multiple strands indicate path tested, value depend availability data, problem, under consideration. Some longitudinal approaches, drawing analyses whereas embraced combine quantitative information individual components multi-dimensional relational matrices data (Anderies 2022; Cumming combined, developments event-sequence analysis (Spekkink, 2015), organizational ecology 2016), statistical modeling (Morin 2017), evolutionary psychology (Marks Social discursive analysts, use map topologies Fisher Hollway Koskinen, 2016; Pattberg 2018) variety Network demonstrated governance. way interdependence; theories process (including response shock) (Datta 2022); think intervening example adding removing links (Valente, Additional ambitious potentially include: (1) subtle, nuanced efforts (for ‘polycentric’ only partially successful, failures due structural inadequacies?); (2) precise detection threshold feedbacks (allowing question whether must strongly order occur); (3) reduced arbitrariness hence, forestalling arguments) characteristics system's structures (4) direct comparison facilitating qualitative synthesis meta-analysis) establishment broad Spekkink, either node-by-node matrix list form same pairs nodes listed, sometimes strength. capture slice systems—one-mode two-mode connections Very few three-mode treats nodes, (Fried Furthermore, rarely separated studied longitudinally. Applications automated methods Ostrom's constructs, recently illuminated variations innovations above highlight potential identifying segments words, “building blocks” perspective highlights 3-mode (i.e., coordination) could help us jurisdictions associations biophysical, ecological, processes. Structural associate linkages components. Theoretical arguments then developed produce configurations, desirable undesirable set evaluation criteria. Hence, most prevalent inform patterns, vice versa. Drawing above, (venues, [Box 1]) drawn major categories. first category (actor-to-venue) narrows just putting aside already analyzed Berardo Mancilla García second (venue-to-issue) focuses (or same) networked situations (with understood 1 third (actor-to-venue-to-issue) combines two categories), very utilized relying explicit begin tackle challenge paper. Figure illustrates building associated hypothetical coordination. Coordination occurs when interdependence sectors (Metz activities allocate dictate distribution resources. existence interdependencies shape behaviors outcomes. 1, circles boxes diamonds lines Horizontally, aligned loosely coordinated tightly vertically deeply polycentric. Example interpretations selected motif panels 1–3 along examples references literature. Motifs ‘a’ ‘e’ (top horizontal panel) venues. An interpretation ‘c’, would 2007). By Motif shows communicate venue. refer ‘layering’, whereby added, gradually changing power Van der Heijden, ‘f’ – ‘i’ (middle link ‘f’, represents generic disaster forum peripherally includes consideration projections (Bell Finally, ‘j' ‘p’ (bottom additional independencies ‘J', engaged One illustration found Morrison's (2007) study high-stake involved representative ‘K', closed actor-venue-issue triangle ‘o’ ‘q’, distinct, Consistent science, ‘q’ high-risk/closed bonding ties, body integrated legal framework compels frequent substantial commitment ‘p’, independent participate Hamilton (2021) document independently making Whether block “good” “bad” entirely context. possible, upper left corner preferred ‘c’ right corner, depending situation. While literature 2-mode issues), know numerous (actors-venues-issues) exist, do absent, what mean. deliberately exploratory. overcome knowledge, undertook series workshops obvious possible Three workshops, 7 authors plus 11 participants, hosted facilities National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center Annapolis, Maryland 2018 2019. All workshop participants had expertise modeling, geography, analysis. Over course began compatible distilling our previous integration (e.g. Tosun Lang, Jordan, 2008), Westerink well published Australia, USA E