10
robust knowledge, stimulates mutual learning and ultimately facilitates capacity
building in environmental governance.
Still, despite a basic descriptive understanding of the complex stakeholder
arrangements and their recent developments in the Baltic Sea region (e.g. Hassler
et al. 2013 ; Kern and Bulkeley 2009 ), there is a need for more in-depth critical
analyses of framings , processes and outcomes linked to stakeholder participation in
Baltic Sea environmental governance. Similarly, knowledge on environmental
communication and framing is rather undeveloped in the Baltic Sea region, although
some previous studies have addressed, for example, media framing (Jönsson 2011 )
and stakeholder participation in fi sheries management (Linke et al. 2011 ). Clearly,
stakeholders’ perceptions, engagement and participation can all be infl uenced by
how the Baltic Sea environment and its problems are communicated and framed in
the public discourse (cf. Cox 2006 ). In particular, in line with this book’s ambition
to understand environmental governance structures and processes at the macroregional level of the Baltic Sea, there is a need to better understand the extent to
which there are supranational communication arenas in the Baltic Sea region. These
questions and perspectives relating to stakeholder participation and communication
are all covered in the book and applied to experiences of environmental governance
in the Baltic Sea region.
1.3 Outline of Analytical and Methodological Approaches
The empirical work presented in the chapters of this book was gathered as part of
the interdisciplinary RISKGOV project
3 which was based on a common analytical
and methodological framework. Furthermore, empirical and analytical insights
from the ‘follow-up’ COOP project
4 were used to update and expand several case
studies such as the one on eutrophication, as well as to develop cross-case comparisons and ideas for improvements.
The analytical framework aimed to ensure possibilities for cross-case comparisons by specifying focused governance dimensions in line with the arguments
presented in Sect. 1.2 above, defi ning main research questions and providing the
methodological requirements for interviews and document studies. These analytical
and methodological specifi cations are outlined below. While reading this book,
however, it is important to note that the authors of the individual chapters have been
asked to focus on particularly important and interesting aspects in their respective
cases. This means that the main aim of this volume is to explore challenging aspects
3 RISKGOV (Environmental Risk Governance of the Baltic Sea) was funded by the BONUS+
programme and the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (2009–2015). www.sh.se/
riskgov .
4 COOP (Cooperating for Sustainable Regional Marine Governance) was funded by the Foundation
for Baltic and East European Studies (2012–2015).
M. Gilek et al.
robust knowledge, stimulates mutual learning and ultimately facilitates capacity
building in environmental governance.
Still, despite a basic descriptive understanding of the complex stakeholder
arrangements and their recent developments in the Baltic Sea region (e.g. Hassler
et al. 2013 ; Kern and Bulkeley 2009 ), there is a need for more in-depth critical
analyses of framings , processes and outcomes linked to stakeholder participation in
Baltic Sea environmental governance. Similarly, knowledge on environmental
communication and framing is rather undeveloped in the Baltic Sea region, although
some previous studies have addressed, for example, media framing (Jönsson 2011 )
and stakeholder participation in fi sheries management (Linke et al. 2011 ). Clearly,
stakeholders’ perceptions, engagement and participation can all be infl uenced by
how the Baltic Sea environment and its problems are communicated and framed in
the public discourse (cf. Cox 2006 ). In particular, in line with this book’s ambition
to understand environmental governance structures and processes at the macroregional level of the Baltic Sea, there is a need to better understand the extent to
which there are supranational communication arenas in the Baltic Sea region. These
questions and perspectives relating to stakeholder participation and communication
are all covered in the book and applied to experiences of environmental governance
in the Baltic Sea region.
1.3 Outline of Analytical and Methodological Approaches
The empirical work presented in the chapters of this book was gathered as part of
the interdisciplinary RISKGOV project
3 which was based on a common analytical
and methodological framework. Furthermore, empirical and analytical insights
from the ‘follow-up’ COOP project
4 were used to update and expand several case
studies such as the one on eutrophication, as well as to develop cross-case comparisons and ideas for improvements.
The analytical framework aimed to ensure possibilities for cross-case comparisons by specifying focused governance dimensions in line with the arguments
presented in Sect. 1.2 above, defi ning main research questions and providing the
methodological requirements for interviews and document studies. These analytical
and methodological specifi cations are outlined below. While reading this book,
however, it is important to note that the authors of the individual chapters have been
asked to focus on particularly important and interesting aspects in their respective
cases. This means that the main aim of this volume is to explore challenging aspects
3 RISKGOV (Environmental Risk Governance of the Baltic Sea) was funded by the BONUS+
programme and the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (2009–2015). www.sh.se/
riskgov .
4 COOP (Cooperating for Sustainable Regional Marine Governance) was funded by the Foundation
for Baltic and East European Studies (2012–2015).
M. Gilek et al.