301
M. Bavinck et al. (eds.), Governability of Fisheries and Aquaculture:
Theory and Applications, MARE Publication Series 7, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6107-0_16,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Abstract The interactive governance approach views the fi sheries system or ‘ fi sh
chain’ as consisting of a system-to-be-governed, a governing system and governing
interactions between them. This system can also be viewed in a complementary way
as a network of nodes or actors with links among them. Some nodes will belong to
the system-to-be-governed, some to the governing system and some belong to both
system-to-be-governed and governing system. The linkage between any pair of
nodes can take any or several of four forms: goods, services, payment or a governing interaction. A network perspective on the interactive governance approach offers
the opportunity to analyze the fi sheries system using network analysis tools. These
analyses can reveal system characteristics such as where links are weak or lacking,
or how power and centres of organization are distributed within the system. These
fi ndings can guide interventions to create or strengthen governing interactions. This
information can be used to determine where interventions can be designed to
improve governability of the system, for example by improving network connectivity to increase capacity for learning, or creating new pathways to distribute power
more equitably.
Keywords Social network analysis • Governing interactions • Resilience • Social
ecological systems • Identi fi cation • Learning systems
R. Mahon (*) • P. McConney
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) ,
University of the West Indies , St. Michael , Barbados
e-mail: rmahon@caribsurf.com ; patrick.mcconney@cavehill.uwi.edu
Chapter 16
A Network Perspective on Governing
Interactions
Robin Mahon and Patrick McConney
M. Bavinck et al. (eds.), Governability of Fisheries and Aquaculture:
Theory and Applications, MARE Publication Series 7, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6107-0_16,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Abstract The interactive governance approach views the fi sheries system or ‘ fi sh
chain’ as consisting of a system-to-be-governed, a governing system and governing
interactions between them. This system can also be viewed in a complementary way
as a network of nodes or actors with links among them. Some nodes will belong to
the system-to-be-governed, some to the governing system and some belong to both
system-to-be-governed and governing system. The linkage between any pair of
nodes can take any or several of four forms: goods, services, payment or a governing interaction. A network perspective on the interactive governance approach offers
the opportunity to analyze the fi sheries system using network analysis tools. These
analyses can reveal system characteristics such as where links are weak or lacking,
or how power and centres of organization are distributed within the system. These
fi ndings can guide interventions to create or strengthen governing interactions. This
information can be used to determine where interventions can be designed to
improve governability of the system, for example by improving network connectivity to increase capacity for learning, or creating new pathways to distribute power
more equitably.
Keywords Social network analysis • Governing interactions • Resilience • Social
ecological systems • Identi fi cation • Learning systems
R. Mahon (*) • P. McConney
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) ,
University of the West Indies , St. Michael , Barbados
e-mail: rmahon@caribsurf.com ; patrick.mcconney@cavehill.uwi.edu
Chapter 16
A Network Perspective on Governing
Interactions
Robin Mahon and Patrick McConney