353
19 Improving Governability – Re fl ections for Future Applications
we want to say about the system has to be synthetic in one way or the other. At the
same time, however, it is useful to divide the system into three sub-systems and start
analysis. These two activities – breaking-down into analytical units and building-up
into a more holistic whole – should be an iterative process, theoretically, conceptually and empirically. The result is a body of insights into the conditions, factors and
forces that form the ‘image’ we call governability. Additionally, we analyze and
synthesize the diversity, complexity, dynamics and scale of the societal system in
which we are interested with an inter-level and inter-focus approach.
If scholars take up the challenges for and concerns about fi sheries, the need for
systematic inter-disciplinary research will become ever clearer. As Pullin argues in
Chap. 6 , from a food security perspective, and I don’t speak of other concerns that
may have similar effects, each marine resource has multiple users, each of whom
have little or no accountability for the adverse impacts on others. This shortcoming
can only be met by an inter-sectoral approach. In practice, the lack of interactions
between sectoral studies is a major weakness and drawback in perspectives on the
governability of fi sheries. The same can be said of inter-level studies. From a feasibility point of view, it is logical that scholars have dif fi culty in giving micro and
macro perspectives research attention simultaneously. However, in micro (case)
governability studies, it should become standard practice to at least include a macro
oriented positioning of the case. V ice versa , a macro study should give indications
of issues and consequences on the micro level.
Features
All societal systems are characterized by four features: diversity, complexity and
dynamics, each of which is expressed differently at varying scales (see Chap. 2 ).
They form an essential part of the interactive governance approach and fi gure prominently in this book. For the study of governability, theories of diversity point to the
role of differences and similarities in societal systems. Theories of complexity highlight the interrelations within societal systems. Theories of dynamics, in turn, show
that linear as well as non-linear patterns of change need to be taken into account. In
addition to its analytical role, scale has the important function of ensuring that the
three other central features are looked at the same level in any study.
Diversity
Interest in diversity on a general systems level is growing. Diversity is considered a
basic concept in explaining the evolutionary, co-evolutionary and self-organizing
qualities of natural and societal systems (Kaufmann 1995 , 289 ff; also Holland
1995 , 27–31). While it is too early to say what these ideas of diversity may mean for
the study of governability, they certainly draw attention to its role as a creating force
19 Improving Governability – Re fl ections for Future Applications
we want to say about the system has to be synthetic in one way or the other. At the
same time, however, it is useful to divide the system into three sub-systems and start
analysis. These two activities – breaking-down into analytical units and building-up
into a more holistic whole – should be an iterative process, theoretically, conceptually and empirically. The result is a body of insights into the conditions, factors and
forces that form the ‘image’ we call governability. Additionally, we analyze and
synthesize the diversity, complexity, dynamics and scale of the societal system in
which we are interested with an inter-level and inter-focus approach.
If scholars take up the challenges for and concerns about fi sheries, the need for
systematic inter-disciplinary research will become ever clearer. As Pullin argues in
Chap. 6 , from a food security perspective, and I don’t speak of other concerns that
may have similar effects, each marine resource has multiple users, each of whom
have little or no accountability for the adverse impacts on others. This shortcoming
can only be met by an inter-sectoral approach. In practice, the lack of interactions
between sectoral studies is a major weakness and drawback in perspectives on the
governability of fi sheries. The same can be said of inter-level studies. From a feasibility point of view, it is logical that scholars have dif fi culty in giving micro and
macro perspectives research attention simultaneously. However, in micro (case)
governability studies, it should become standard practice to at least include a macro
oriented positioning of the case. V ice versa , a macro study should give indications
of issues and consequences on the micro level.
Features
All societal systems are characterized by four features: diversity, complexity and
dynamics, each of which is expressed differently at varying scales (see Chap. 2 ).
They form an essential part of the interactive governance approach and fi gure prominently in this book. For the study of governability, theories of diversity point to the
role of differences and similarities in societal systems. Theories of complexity highlight the interrelations within societal systems. Theories of dynamics, in turn, show
that linear as well as non-linear patterns of change need to be taken into account. In
addition to its analytical role, scale has the important function of ensuring that the
three other central features are looked at the same level in any study.
Diversity
Interest in diversity on a general systems level is growing. Diversity is considered a
basic concept in explaining the evolutionary, co-evolutionary and self-organizing
qualities of natural and societal systems (Kaufmann 1995 , 289 ff; also Holland
1995 , 27–31). While it is too early to say what these ideas of diversity may mean for
the study of governability, they certainly draw attention to its role as a creating force