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State roles and motivations in collaborative approaches to water governance: a power theory-based analysis

Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:02
Version 1 2023-06-09, 17:06
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:02 authored by Marie Claire BrisboisMarie Claire Brisbois, Rob de Loë
Contentious water problems are increasingly being addressed using collaborative approaches to governance. Despite trends toward more inclusive governance, governments continue to play important roles in the initiation of collaboration, provision of institutional and financial support, and approval and implementation of policies and decisions. This study used power theory to structure an analysis of the actions and motivations of the state at various stages in the policy making and decision making cycle. Research assessed the potential of collaboration to generate better social and environmental outcomes. Empirical cases in Ontario and Alberta, Canada, both characterized by the participation of powerful natural resourceindustries, were used to generate insights. Results reveal that the provincial governments exerted power from agenda setting through to implementation in response to socioeconomic, political and cultural stimuli at multiple scales in ways that reproduced existing power structures. The position and activities of the state, in these cases, challenged the potential of collaboration to achieve desired social and environmental outcomes.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Geoforum

ISSN

0016-7185

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

74

Page range

202-212

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-03-04

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-03-01

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