5
challenge concerns the uncertainties , ambiguities and complexities involved in
perceiving, understanding and assessing different types of risks and problems, as
well as how these risk perceptions and science - based assessments interact with
environmental management . The third challenge concerns the diffi culties in developing communication , exchange of value perspectives and knowledge sharing
among key stakeholder groups based on participation , transparency and trust.
In this chapter we fi rst introduce environmental governance and the key governance challenges identifi ed and addressed in the book, as well as important research
topics associated with these challenges. Second, we outline the general analytical
and methodological approaches on which the research presented in this book is
based. Finally, we summarise the book’s structure and highlight key topics addressed
in the individual chapters.
1.2 Key Environmental Governance Challenges and Related
Research Topics
Over the last few decades, the term ‘governance’ and the specifi c topic of this
book – ‘environmental governance’ – have become prevalent in the social and
environmental science literature (e.g. Söderström et al. 2015a ). The concept of governance, fi rst established in public administration and taken up in political science,
is used to depict a shift in responsibility from state to non-state actors (e.g. private
or voluntary sectors) that affects structures and processes for collective action and
decision-making (Stoker 1998 ). It emphasises social and political steering and acting in polycentric networks on different levels – local, regional, national, European
and global (e.g. Delmas and Young 2009 ; Rosenau 2003 ; Wagner 2005 ). However,
there is a great variation in how governance is defi ned and used. In other words, it
refers more to a perspective than a coherent theory (e.g. Pierre and Peters 2000 ;
Rhodes 1996 ). Our defi nition in this volume includes both structures – such as policy
contexts, existing power relations among key actors, regulatory frameworks and
organisational forms of decision-making, refl exivity and participation – and
processes. Processes comprise aspects such as the evolution of organisations and
interactions between, for instance, science and policy, as well as communication
and interaction among policy-makers, scientists and other stakeholders. Processes
also include the development of strategies, framings , communication and learning .
In many respects, EAM shares with environmental governance an interest in
similar core topics, e.g. multilevel and multi-sector institutional interactions, knowledge integration and stakeholder arrangements and partnerships (Söderström et al.
2015a ). In addition, it offers several additional focal areas and assumptions of value
to the comprehensive analysis of environmental governance aimed for in this book.
To begin with, there is a fundamental ecosystem-based focus in EAM that assumes
that sustainable management of human activities and pressures can only be achieved
if it is based on the sensitivity and complexity of the ecosystem in focus. In line with
1 Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea: Identifying Key Challenges,…
challenge concerns the uncertainties , ambiguities and complexities involved in
perceiving, understanding and assessing different types of risks and problems, as
well as how these risk perceptions and science - based assessments interact with
environmental management . The third challenge concerns the diffi culties in developing communication , exchange of value perspectives and knowledge sharing
among key stakeholder groups based on participation , transparency and trust.
In this chapter we fi rst introduce environmental governance and the key governance challenges identifi ed and addressed in the book, as well as important research
topics associated with these challenges. Second, we outline the general analytical
and methodological approaches on which the research presented in this book is
based. Finally, we summarise the book’s structure and highlight key topics addressed
in the individual chapters.
1.2 Key Environmental Governance Challenges and Related
Research Topics
Over the last few decades, the term ‘governance’ and the specifi c topic of this
book – ‘environmental governance’ – have become prevalent in the social and
environmental science literature (e.g. Söderström et al. 2015a ). The concept of governance, fi rst established in public administration and taken up in political science,
is used to depict a shift in responsibility from state to non-state actors (e.g. private
or voluntary sectors) that affects structures and processes for collective action and
decision-making (Stoker 1998 ). It emphasises social and political steering and acting in polycentric networks on different levels – local, regional, national, European
and global (e.g. Delmas and Young 2009 ; Rosenau 2003 ; Wagner 2005 ). However,
there is a great variation in how governance is defi ned and used. In other words, it
refers more to a perspective than a coherent theory (e.g. Pierre and Peters 2000 ;
Rhodes 1996 ). Our defi nition in this volume includes both structures – such as policy
contexts, existing power relations among key actors, regulatory frameworks and
organisational forms of decision-making, refl exivity and participation – and
processes. Processes comprise aspects such as the evolution of organisations and
interactions between, for instance, science and policy, as well as communication
and interaction among policy-makers, scientists and other stakeholders. Processes
also include the development of strategies, framings , communication and learning .
In many respects, EAM shares with environmental governance an interest in
similar core topics, e.g. multilevel and multi-sector institutional interactions, knowledge integration and stakeholder arrangements and partnerships (Söderström et al.
2015a ). In addition, it offers several additional focal areas and assumptions of value
to the comprehensive analysis of environmental governance aimed for in this book.
To begin with, there is a fundamental ecosystem-based focus in EAM that assumes
that sustainable management of human activities and pressures can only be achieved
if it is based on the sensitivity and complexity of the ecosystem in focus. In line with
1 Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea: Identifying Key Challenges,…