330
S. Almerigi et al.
Exploration and operationalization of the Interactive Governance Approach and
governability will increasingly take action researchers in the direction of facilitated
group processes such as this one. The Interactive Governance Approach emphasizes the Governing Interactions between the Governing System and the Systemto-be-Governed. These are, for the most part, social interactions that should be
carried out according to agreed procedural principles if they are to be effective
(Mahon et al. 2011 ) . The objectives of governance should also be guided by agreed
fundamental principles (Mahon et al. 2011 ) . Beyond the need for agreed principles,
stakeholders must have a common vision of what governance is trying to achieve.
This common vision can be expected to greatly enhance the governability of the
system (Bavinck et al. 2005 ; Jentoft et al. 2010 ) .
Given this need for interaction among stakeholders in the Governing System
and System-to-be-Governed, methods that can facilitate the development of
consensus on principles and visions are likely to be key components of Interactive
Governance and initiatives to enhance governability. Group processes will be
particularly important when: (1) attempting to engage multiple stakeholder
types; (2) attempting to address governance at larger spatial and organizational
scales, as is required for working with large marine ecosystems; and (3) working with intangible aspects of governance, such as principles and visions. We
expect that working on marine governance issues in this way will be an iterative
process in which participants will both contribute to governance and learn about
it at the same time. Engagement of stakeholders in such processes is expected to
also lead to an increase in their capacity to participate meaningfully. This should
lead to an improvement in governability in the entire system. However, given
the geopolitical and scale complexity of the region, such process will be necessary at several scales and organization scale levels if signi fi cant change is to be
achieved.
References
Bavinck, M., Chuenpagdee, R., Diallo, M., van der Heijden, P., Kooiman, J., Mahon, R., Williams,
S. (2005). Interactive governance for fi sheries: A guide to better practice. Delft: Eburon
Academic Publishers.
Chakalall, B., Mahon, R., McConney, P., Nurse, L., Oderson, D. (2007). Governance of fi sheries
and other living marine resources in the wider Caribbean. Fisheries Research, 87, 92–99.
Creative Commons (2008). Welcome to the World Café. Retrieved from http://www.theworldcafe.
com . Accessed 9 Jan 2013.
Diceman, J. (2010). Dotmocracy handbook: A simple tool to help large groups fi nd agreement.
Retrieved from http://www.dotmocracy.org . Accessed 9 Jan 2013.
Fanning, L., Mahon, R., McConney, P., Angulo, J., Burrows, F., Chakalall, B., Gil, D., Haughton,
M., Heileman, S., Martinez, S., Ostine, L., Oviedo, A., Parsons, S., Phillips, T., Santizo Arroya,
C., Simmons, B., Toro, C. (2007). A large marine ecosystem governance framework. Marine
Policy, 31, 434–443.
Fanning, L., Mahon, R., McConney, P. (2009). Focusing on living marine resource governance:
The Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Areas Project. Coastal Management, 37,
219–234.
S. Almerigi et al.
Exploration and operationalization of the Interactive Governance Approach and
governability will increasingly take action researchers in the direction of facilitated
group processes such as this one. The Interactive Governance Approach emphasizes the Governing Interactions between the Governing System and the Systemto-be-Governed. These are, for the most part, social interactions that should be
carried out according to agreed procedural principles if they are to be effective
(Mahon et al. 2011 ) . The objectives of governance should also be guided by agreed
fundamental principles (Mahon et al. 2011 ) . Beyond the need for agreed principles,
stakeholders must have a common vision of what governance is trying to achieve.
This common vision can be expected to greatly enhance the governability of the
system (Bavinck et al. 2005 ; Jentoft et al. 2010 ) .
Given this need for interaction among stakeholders in the Governing System
and System-to-be-Governed, methods that can facilitate the development of
consensus on principles and visions are likely to be key components of Interactive
Governance and initiatives to enhance governability. Group processes will be
particularly important when: (1) attempting to engage multiple stakeholder
types; (2) attempting to address governance at larger spatial and organizational
scales, as is required for working with large marine ecosystems; and (3) working with intangible aspects of governance, such as principles and visions. We
expect that working on marine governance issues in this way will be an iterative
process in which participants will both contribute to governance and learn about
it at the same time. Engagement of stakeholders in such processes is expected to
also lead to an increase in their capacity to participate meaningfully. This should
lead to an improvement in governability in the entire system. However, given
the geopolitical and scale complexity of the region, such process will be necessary at several scales and organization scale levels if signi fi cant change is to be
achieved.
References
Bavinck, M., Chuenpagdee, R., Diallo, M., van der Heijden, P., Kooiman, J., Mahon, R., Williams,
S. (2005). Interactive governance for fi sheries: A guide to better practice. Delft: Eburon
Academic Publishers.
Chakalall, B., Mahon, R., McConney, P., Nurse, L., Oderson, D. (2007). Governance of fi sheries
and other living marine resources in the wider Caribbean. Fisheries Research, 87, 92–99.
Creative Commons (2008). Welcome to the World Café. Retrieved from http://www.theworldcafe.
com . Accessed 9 Jan 2013.
Diceman, J. (2010). Dotmocracy handbook: A simple tool to help large groups fi nd agreement.
Retrieved from http://www.dotmocracy.org . Accessed 9 Jan 2013.
Fanning, L., Mahon, R., McConney, P., Angulo, J., Burrows, F., Chakalall, B., Gil, D., Haughton,
M., Heileman, S., Martinez, S., Ostine, L., Oviedo, A., Parsons, S., Phillips, T., Santizo Arroya,
C., Simmons, B., Toro, C. (2007). A large marine ecosystem governance framework. Marine
Policy, 31, 434–443.
Fanning, L., Mahon, R., McConney, P. (2009). Focusing on living marine resource governance:
The Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Areas Project. Coastal Management, 37,
219–234.