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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Understanding the complex power dynamics that shape collaboration and social learning in multi-stakeholder water governance
Ecology and Society, Vol.29(3), pp.1-25
2024
Abstract
The relationship between power dynamics and decision making in natural resource management is central to explaining governance outcomes. Contemporary catchment governance is increasingly characterized by the interaction of multiple stakeholder groups, which has shifted processes like collaboration and social learning into the focus of water governance research and related fields. Because collaboration and social learning are effective tools for resilience building through, for example, strengthening social capital and network relationships, there is need to better understand how power dynamics influence processes of collaboration and learning and consequential decision making. A three-dimensional power theory was applied to elucidate how instrumental, structural, and discursive power dynamics shape collaboration and social learning in catchment governance, and their effects on governance outcomes. The development process of the Lockyer Valley Catchment Action Plan (Australia) in 2015–2016 was used as a case study. Twenty-five interviews with three diverse stakeholders were conducted and thematically analyzed to extract power evidence from this example of a real-world multi-stakeholder governance process. We identified three main hubs of power, namely: (1) power of facilitation; (2) power of trust; and (3) power of politics. These hubs were characterized by a multitude of strongly interlinked instrumental, structural, and discursive power dynamics. Understanding these hubs of power allow the identification of intervention points to strengthen water governance effectiveness in times of water crisis.
Details
- Title
- Understanding the complex power dynamics that shape collaboration and social learning in multi-stakeholder water governance
- Authors
- Lisa McIlwain (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research ClusterJulia Baird - Brock UniversityClaudia Baldwin - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research ClusterGary Pickering - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research ClusterCatherine Manathunga - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Education and Tertiary AccessTimothy Smith - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
- Publication details
- Ecology and Society, Vol.29(3), pp.1-25
- Publisher
- Resilience Alliance Publications
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.5751/ES-15109-290331
- ISSN
- 1708-3087
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2024 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance. Open Access. CC-BY 4.0. McIlwain, L., J. Baird, C. L. Baldwin, G. J. Pickering, C. Manathunga, and T. F. Smith. 2024. Understanding the complex power dynamics that shape collaboration and social learning in multi-stakeholder water governance. Ecology and Society 29(3):31. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15109-290331.
- Data Availability
- The data and code that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, LM. None of the data and code are publicly available because they contain information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.
- Organisation Unit
- Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; School of Education and Tertiary Access; Engage Research Lab; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991066194602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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