Power Dynamics and Corporate Power in Governance Processes: Evidence From U.S. Environmental Governance Systems

2021 ◽  
pp. 027507402110552
Author(s):  
Yuhao Ba
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Economy ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Corporate Power ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Governance Processes ◽  
Corporate Business

Prior research has documented involvement of government and civil society actors in governance processes, but has largely neglected a key player: corporate business interests. Combining insights from social-ecological systems, organizational systems theory, theories of governance and power, interest group rule-making participation, and non-state alternative environmental governance, we examine corporate involvement and power in environmental governance systems. Drawing on a sample of Twitter messages about fuel economy standards, posted between 2012 and 2020, we offer a sector-level discourse analysis of corporate power and its interaction with the sociopolitical environment. The results suggest that business interests are gaining increasing power in the participation arena of U.S. fuel economy governance processes. The results likewise indicate corporations’ response to a changing political landscape in the U.S. Taken together, our analysis advances current scholarship on power dynamics in governance processes and on empirical assessment of power, offering implications for governance system design and implementation.

scholarly journals INSTITUTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: THE CASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING FOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PROJECTS

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
TOMÁS DE OLIVEIRA BREDARIOL ◽  
ALEXANDRE LOUIS DE ALMEIDA D’AVIGNON
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Governance System ◽  
The Public ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Institutional Analysis And Development ◽  
Offshore Oil

Abstract This work is an effort to link institutions and environmental governance, focusing on the Brazilian offshore oil and gas sector. A case study detailing the experience of an environmental unit of Brazil`s federal environmental agency (Coordenação Geral de Petróleo e Gás, Diretoria de Licenciamento, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - CGPEG/DILIC/IBAMA) is used for this purpose. This unit is in charge of handling environmental permits for projects in this area. The methodology follows the institutional analysis and development framework as described by Ostrom (2011). Results reveal an environmental governance system characterized by the lack of policies that complement the issuing of environmental permits. In addition, we describe the institutional environment at CGPEG, demonstrating the existence of trust among its personnel. Finally, our conclusions indicate the importance of ensuring the permanence of the public staff, as well as the need to structure strategic governance systems.

Performance of community-based natural resource governance for the Kafue Flats (Zambia)

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
BIMO A. NKHATA ◽  
CHARLES M. BREEN
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Community Based ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Natural Resource Governance ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Practical Experiences

SUMMARYThe performance obstacles surrounding community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in southern Africa have much to do with understanding of environmental governance systems and how these are devolved. CBNRM appears to be failing because of flawed environmental governance systems compounded by their ineffective devolution. A case study in Zambia is used to illustrate why and how one CBNRM scheme for the most part faltered. It draws on practical experiences involving the devolution of decision-making and benefit-distribution processes on a floodplain wetland known as the Kafue Flats. While this CBNRM scheme was designed to facilitate the devolution of key components of an environmental governance system, the resultant efforts were largely unsuccessful because of the poor social relationships between government actors and local rural communities. It is argued that in Zambia, at least from an environmental governance system perspective, CBNRM has mostly failed. While generally bringing some marginal improvements to local communities, the construction and execution of an effective environmental governance system have been largely flawed.

scholarly journals Co-Management of Protected Areas: A Governance System Analysis of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 681
Author(s):  
Jon Geir Petursson ◽  
Dadi Mar Kristofersson
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Power Sharing ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
And Performance

Land allocated to protected areas (PA) is expanding as are expectations about the services these areas deliver. There is a need to advance knowledge on PA governance systems, like co-management, recognising that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. We analyse the co-management governance system and performance of Vatnajökull National Park (VNP), Iceland. We adapt an analytical framework from the literature on environmental governance and analyse its governance system, hence actor roles, institutional arrangements and interactions. Our findings illustrate that the co-management structure was an outcome of political negotiations and a response to the lack of legitimacy of its predecessors; resulting in a tailor-made governance system set out in park-specific legislation. Although the performance is quite positive, being adaptive to changes, inclusive, promoting rural development and an appreciated facilitator of devolution and power-sharing, it has come with challenges. It has encountered problems delineating responsibilities among its actors, causing conflict and confusion; in settling conflicting localised issues close to local stakeholders, there have been capacity issues. We argue that the VNP co-management system is fit for its purpose, aligned with Icelandic land-use governance structures but in need of systematic improvements. There are important lessons as Iceland seeks to expand its PA estate and beyond, since the global community is setting ambitious policy goals to expand site-based conservation.

scholarly journals An Endless Endeavor: The Evolution and Challenges of Multi-Level Coastal Governance in the Global South

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10413
Author(s):  
Leandra R. Gonçalves ◽  
Leopoldo C. Gerhardinger ◽  
Marcus Polette ◽  
Alexander Turra
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Global South ◽  
Institutional Entrepreneurship ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Coastal Governance ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Governance Process ◽  
Alternative Scenarios ◽  
Governance Processes

We used Brazil as a Global South case study to analyze the evolution of the coastal governance in a young and still unstable democracy. Based on twenty-five years of documentation related to a federal-level actor interaction hub named Coastal Management Integration Group (GIGERCO) we explored the opportunity context for the transformation of the Brazilian coastal governance system using a Theory of Transformative Agency to identify five periods of evolution. The coastal governance system shifted from an exploitation to a conservation phase (periods 1 to 3), where an increasing number of actors were getting to know the system and each other’s interests turned into a moment of higher stability and resistance to change. The mobilization of social capital and higher heterogeneity of actors allowed novel strategies to emerge, generating opportunities for structural changes from a conservation towards a release phase (period 4). We argue that the recent political changes in Brazil caused a rupture in such a flourishing coastal governance process (period 5), which is now at a critical juncture that may unfold into one of three envisioned alternative scenarios: conservative regime, a new integrated and ecosystem-based regime, or a remanent of past regime properties. Our paper informs coastal governance processes across the world, highlighting the dynamic nature of the interplay between alternative institutional entrepreneurship strategies, opportunity contexts, and innovations in governance systems.

scholarly journals Conceptual framework for increasing legitimacy and trust of sustainability governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge Stupak ◽  
Maha Mansoor ◽  
C. Tattersall Smith
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Governance Model ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Sustainability Governance ◽  
Sustainable Societies ◽  
Key Terms

AbstractWhile the quantity of sustainability governance initiatives and systems has increased dramatically, crises persist over whether specific governance systems can be trusted as legitimate regulators of the sustainability of economic activities. This paper focuses on conceptual tools to improve our understanding of these crises as well as the facilitating factors and barriers for sustainability governance to play a role in transitioning to profoundly more sustainable societies than those that currently exist. Bioenergy is used throughout the paper as an example to aid contextually in understanding the theoretical and abstract arguments. We first define eight premises upon which our argumentation is developed. We then define sustainability, sustainability transition, legitimacy, and trust as a premise for obtaining effectiveness in communication and minimising risks associated with misunderstanding key terms. We proceed to examine the literature on “good governance” in order to reflect upon what defines "good sustainability governance" and what makes governance systems successful in achieving their goals. We propose input, output, and throughput legitimacy as three principles constituting “good” sustainability governance and propose associated open-ended criteria as a basis for developing operational standards for assessing the quality of a sustainability governance system or complex. As sustainability governance systems must develop to remain relevant, we also suggest an adaptive governance model, where continuous re-evaluation of the sustainability governance system design supports the system in remaining “good” in conditions that are complex and dynamic. Finally, we pull from the literature in a broad range of sciences to propose a conceptual “governance research framework” that aims to facilitate an integrated understanding of how the design of sustainability governance systems influences the legitimacy and trust granted to them by relevant actors. The framework is intended to enhance the adaptive features of sustainability governance systems so as to allow the identification of the causes of existing and emerging sustainability governance crises and finding solutions to them. Knowledge generated from its use may form a basis for providing policy recommendations on how to practically solve complex legitimacy and trust crises related to sustainability governance.

scholarly journals Research on Modern Marine Environmental Governance in China: Subject Identification, Structural Characteristics, and Operational Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4485
Author(s):  
Qi Chen ◽  
Huijuan Yu ◽  
Yezhi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Pressure System ◽  
Operational Mechanism ◽  
The One ◽  
Process Coordination ◽  
Marine Environmental

Under the guidance of modern environmental governance concepts, there have been profound changes in the subject, structure, and operational mechanism of the modern marine environmental governance in China. This paper first classifies the subjects of modern marine environmental governance in China, as well as their relationships; analyses the structural characteristics from the three levels of rights, society, and region; explores the operational mechanism; and builds the framework of the modern marine environmental governance system in China. Both the central and local governments act as the leaders of the modern marine environmental governance system in China, and there have been many new changes in their relationships. On the one hand, the interest and goals of the central and local governments have gradually converged under the pressure system. On the other hand, local governments follow the principles of comprehensive governance regarding the coastline and collaborative cooperation is gradually beginning to occur. Different governance subjects are interrelated and intertwined to form a complete modern marine environmental governance structure, which includes the following three levels: the governmental power structure; the social structure, which involves collaboration between multiple entities; and the regional structure, which involves land-sea coordination in environmental governance. These structures each play their parts in the overall process of the marine environmental governance’s institutional arrangements, process coordination, and feedback adjustments and ultimately constitute a dynamic and complete modern marine environmental governance operational system.

scholarly journals Central Protectionism in China: The “Central SOE Problem” in Environmental Governance

2017 ◽  
Vol 231 ◽  
pp. 685-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Eaton ◽  
Genia Kostka
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Central State ◽  
Environmental Guidelines ◽  
Regulatory Capacity ◽  
National Champions ◽  
Central Management ◽  
Regulatory Challenges

AbstractThis article examines the so-called “central State Owned Enterprise (SOE) problem” in China's environmental governance system, namely central SOEs' defiance of environmental regulation. We present evidence showing that, in the last decade, central SOEs have been the source of a large number of serious pollution incidents and have often failed to comply with environmental guidelines and regulations. Central SOEs in the electricity generation and oil and gas industries are particularly culpable, with six firms alone accounting for 62 per cent of all 2,370 reported violations (2004–2016). We argue that a combination of “central protectionism” of state-owned national champions and insufficient regulatory capacity in the environmental bureaucracy have provided state firms under central management with both incentives and opportunities to shirk on environmental regulations. Yet, while the institutions of central protectionism are deeply rooted, countervailing forces within the complex Chinese state are also gaining momentum. In spite of the considerable regulatory challenges, officials in the environment bureaucracy display increasing resolve and ingenuity in trying to strengthen their enforcement capacity.

scholarly journals COMPLIANCE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA WITH EUROPEAN UNION STANDARDS

2018 ◽  
pp. 340-355
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Principles And Standards

Corporate governance provides an answer to the question who controls the corporation and how. It involves a set of relationships between management, shareholders and stakeholders. Corporate governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina is within the legal jurisdiction of entities, and consequently there are two substantially aligned and yet completely distinct corporate governance systems, which separates Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state in the international environment into a specific category in terms of corporate governance. This paper will analyze ownership concentration in order to identify the characteristics of the corporate governance systems, then it will present the principles on which the legal framework for corporate governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina is defined, compare the business transparency standards with the transparency directive in the EU, and measure the quality level of corporate governance in order to define key areas for improvement of corporate governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The development and characteristics of the corporate governance systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be explored and compared with the regulatory framework and standards of corporate governance in the European Union. Special emphasis is on comparing the transparency principles and standards of corporations in Bosnia and Herzegovina with corporations in the European Union. The aim of the research is to compare the regulatory framework and characteristics of the corporate governance system in corporations in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the standards in the European Union, to identify similarities and differences and to define key areas for improvement of corporate governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Trading Schemes, Risks, and Costs: The Cases of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and the Renewables Obligation

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 938-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Toke
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Emissions Trading ◽  
Command And Control ◽  
False Belief ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Emissions Trading Scheme ◽  
Trading Scheme ◽  
And Control

The appropriateness and importance of market-based environmental governance systems vary according to different cases. Although so-called ‘market trading’ regimes can be useful in some circumstances, a false belief in the inevitability of their cost-effectiveness compared with so-called ‘command and control’ systems has allowed policy distortions to occur. So-called ‘command and control’ policies are being underemphasised, despite the fact that they may achieve reductions in carbon emissions that are cheaper than those likely to be achieved through emissions (or ‘certificate’) trading regimes. I address theoretical arguments which I then place in context with analysis of some features of the British Renewables Obligation and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

Governing Migration Beyond the State

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Geddes
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Black Box ◽  
Global Politics ◽  
Global Migration ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
America South ◽  
Laws And Policies ◽  
Governance Processes

International migration has become a salient concern in global politics, but there is also significant variation in governance responses. By focusing on four key world regions—Europe, North America, South America, and Southeast Asia—this book explores the underlying factors that shape governance responses. Rather than focusing on the more visible outputs or outcomes of governance processes such as laws and policies, this book opens the ‘black box’ of migration governance to reveal how understandings and representations of the causes and effects of migration held by key governance actors in these four regions have powerful effects not only on governance outcomes but more broadly on the prospects for global migration governance. By doing so, the book shows how migration governance systems, through their operation and effects, can shape migration—in its various forms—and the lived experiences of migrants.

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