Governance Contributions for the Revitalization …
481
2 Governance, Environmental Governance
and Participation Networks
Among the authors who study governance and its forms of application, different
understandings and conceptualizations are observed. Here, governance is considered from the point of view of its capacity for integration and connection motivated,
mainly, by interinstitutional networks (Frey 2012). For the discussion of the relationship between governance and environmental management, this delimitation becomes
essential, and can be observed throughout the research. Governance is a result of the
actions of multiple actors structured in networks that bring the state closer to society and facilitate their interrelationships (Frey 2012). That is, it refers to the notion
of social power that mediates between state, civil society and economic agents,
expanding the mechanisms of participatory democracy, as opposed to the traditional
top-down perspective of centralized management (Jacobi et al. 2015).
Environmental governance, which historically began in the mid-1980s, refers to
ways of governing natural resources that, following the same conceptual framework
as previously explained, involves different actors in a way that stimulates space for
discussion of innovative management ideas (Jacobi et al. 2015). Environmental governance is related to sustainable development strategies motivated by relevant actors
that go beyond government, such as civil society and the private sector (Frey 2012).
The emergence of new environmental governance practices at various levels and
scales was motivated by the growing recognition of one’s own limitations in dealing
with complex problems, such as environmental threats, both globally and locally.
Its challenge, as a political-administrative practice, is to reconcile and integrate new
forms of popular and social participation with practices of deliberative democracy
(Frey 2012).
The standards of this governance can be modified if there is an effective implementation of the various instruments of participation, enabling new mediations between
the State and civil society organizations and, thus, enhancing their democratic relations (Jacobi et al. 2015). These mediations can happen by means of a logical transformation of public administration management, opening space of more complex
dialogue, increasing the degree of responsibility of the segments that always had
asymmetrical participation in the public management. In this context, it is essential to consolidate practices of informal articulation and the formation of networks
of actors that interact, exchange ideas and information continuously, collectively
developing alternative proposals and strategies (Frey 2012). This participatory governance feature is essential to break the logic in which a sectoral policy view prevails
(Jacobi et al. 2015). For example, the prevalence of these sectoral policies reduces
the potentiality of effective changes, being linked to the difficulties and complexities
of overcoming traditional management visions (Jacobi et al. 2015).
Governance arrangements can contribute to the reduction of negative externalities
of public policies and also boost positive externalities through the integrated mobilization of economic, social, ecological and political sustainability (Frey 2012). In
developed countries, environmental governance has been successful, adopting the
481
2 Governance, Environmental Governance
and Participation Networks
Among the authors who study governance and its forms of application, different
understandings and conceptualizations are observed. Here, governance is considered from the point of view of its capacity for integration and connection motivated,
mainly, by interinstitutional networks (Frey 2012). For the discussion of the relationship between governance and environmental management, this delimitation becomes
essential, and can be observed throughout the research. Governance is a result of the
actions of multiple actors structured in networks that bring the state closer to society and facilitate their interrelationships (Frey 2012). That is, it refers to the notion
of social power that mediates between state, civil society and economic agents,
expanding the mechanisms of participatory democracy, as opposed to the traditional
top-down perspective of centralized management (Jacobi et al. 2015).
Environmental governance, which historically began in the mid-1980s, refers to
ways of governing natural resources that, following the same conceptual framework
as previously explained, involves different actors in a way that stimulates space for
discussion of innovative management ideas (Jacobi et al. 2015). Environmental governance is related to sustainable development strategies motivated by relevant actors
that go beyond government, such as civil society and the private sector (Frey 2012).
The emergence of new environmental governance practices at various levels and
scales was motivated by the growing recognition of one’s own limitations in dealing
with complex problems, such as environmental threats, both globally and locally.
Its challenge, as a political-administrative practice, is to reconcile and integrate new
forms of popular and social participation with practices of deliberative democracy
(Frey 2012).
The standards of this governance can be modified if there is an effective implementation of the various instruments of participation, enabling new mediations between
the State and civil society organizations and, thus, enhancing their democratic relations (Jacobi et al. 2015). These mediations can happen by means of a logical transformation of public administration management, opening space of more complex
dialogue, increasing the degree of responsibility of the segments that always had
asymmetrical participation in the public management. In this context, it is essential to consolidate practices of informal articulation and the formation of networks
of actors that interact, exchange ideas and information continuously, collectively
developing alternative proposals and strategies (Frey 2012). This participatory governance feature is essential to break the logic in which a sectoral policy view prevails
(Jacobi et al. 2015). For example, the prevalence of these sectoral policies reduces
the potentiality of effective changes, being linked to the difficulties and complexities
of overcoming traditional management visions (Jacobi et al. 2015).
Governance arrangements can contribute to the reduction of negative externalities
of public policies and also boost positive externalities through the integrated mobilization of economic, social, ecological and political sustainability (Frey 2012). In
developed countries, environmental governance has been successful, adopting the