266
R. Chuenpagdee and R. Mahon
Introduction
System characteristics can be looked at from a variety of perspectives, including
those prescribed in resilience thinking, commons theory, sustainable livelihood
approach, as well as interactive governance. While these frameworks differ in their
theoretical groundings, they are similar in their focus on understanding and explaining the intricacies of the systems. According to the interactive governance theory,
diversity, complexity, dynamics and scale are key characteristics of the natural and
social systems-to-be-governed, and are likely to cause governability problems.
Similarly, these features affect the capacity of the governing system to perform its
functions. The main focus of the governability assessment framework is to examine
these system properties using existing approaches and tools, including those
employed in other frameworks.
Jentoft and Chuenpagdee ( 2009 ) operationalize the governability assessment
framework using three guiding questions: ‘where to look,’ ‘what to look for,’ and
‘what to look at.’ The question about ‘how to look’ is left largely for the researchers
and practitioners to explore on their own. This is because numerous approaches and
tools are already available to characterize the systems and to understand their function. In this chapter, we provide some examples of what these tools are. Rather than
doing an exhaustive review of all existing tools and approaches, we select a number
of them to highlight what they may bring to the understanding of the systems and to
examining governability. In this way, we contribute to the operationalization of one
of the main steps in the full governability assessment framework, presented by
Chuenpagdee and Jentoft ( 2013 ) .
In keeping with the three system analysis, we fi rst present tools and approaches
that can be used to examine the natural and social system-to-be-governed.
Recognizing the linkages of these two systems, we explore some of the tools that
can be used to understand their interconnectivity. This is followed by tools for analyzing the governing system and the governing interactions, respectively. Further,
we underscore meta-governance as an area that has been less explored, and more
dif fi cult to understand.
Systems-to-Be-Governed
Natural System-to-Be-Governed
Tools for examining the natural component of the system-to-be-governed are
undoubtedly the ones that are best known to fi sheries managers. They have been the
basis for conventional fi sheries management and natural science research. They
span the full range of tools for examining the physical, geological and biological
aspects of aquatic ecosystems. Many texts and reference books offer comprehensive
R. Chuenpagdee and R. Mahon
Introduction
System characteristics can be looked at from a variety of perspectives, including
those prescribed in resilience thinking, commons theory, sustainable livelihood
approach, as well as interactive governance. While these frameworks differ in their
theoretical groundings, they are similar in their focus on understanding and explaining the intricacies of the systems. According to the interactive governance theory,
diversity, complexity, dynamics and scale are key characteristics of the natural and
social systems-to-be-governed, and are likely to cause governability problems.
Similarly, these features affect the capacity of the governing system to perform its
functions. The main focus of the governability assessment framework is to examine
these system properties using existing approaches and tools, including those
employed in other frameworks.
Jentoft and Chuenpagdee ( 2009 ) operationalize the governability assessment
framework using three guiding questions: ‘where to look,’ ‘what to look for,’ and
‘what to look at.’ The question about ‘how to look’ is left largely for the researchers
and practitioners to explore on their own. This is because numerous approaches and
tools are already available to characterize the systems and to understand their function. In this chapter, we provide some examples of what these tools are. Rather than
doing an exhaustive review of all existing tools and approaches, we select a number
of them to highlight what they may bring to the understanding of the systems and to
examining governability. In this way, we contribute to the operationalization of one
of the main steps in the full governability assessment framework, presented by
Chuenpagdee and Jentoft ( 2013 ) .
In keeping with the three system analysis, we fi rst present tools and approaches
that can be used to examine the natural and social system-to-be-governed.
Recognizing the linkages of these two systems, we explore some of the tools that
can be used to understand their interconnectivity. This is followed by tools for analyzing the governing system and the governing interactions, respectively. Further,
we underscore meta-governance as an area that has been less explored, and more
dif fi cult to understand.
Systems-to-Be-Governed
Natural System-to-Be-Governed
Tools for examining the natural component of the system-to-be-governed are
undoubtedly the ones that are best known to fi sheries managers. They have been the
basis for conventional fi sheries management and natural science research. They
span the full range of tools for examining the physical, geological and biological
aspects of aquatic ecosystems. Many texts and reference books offer comprehensive