Emerging Theories
Governing a Sustainable Society: Towards a Sociologically Grounded Theory of Polycentric Governance
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marco Billi, Julio Labraña, Anahí Urquiza, Catalina Amigo, Guillermo Palacios, Julian Cortés Oggero
Moving towards a sustainable society requires developing new forms of governance. Ostrom's ideas about polycentric governance have acquired increasing relevance, both in the specialized literature and in the design and execution of public policies. On top of overcoming the classic dichotomy between market-based and government-led approaches in favor of a pluralistic understanding of the collective action of communities, civil society organizations, and other political actors, this proposal resonates with a panarchic understanding of the dynamics and interactions between socio-ecological systems at different scales. This notwithstanding, there lack, in this approaches, a deep and complex sociological understanding of contemporary society, a deficit which has resulted in a simplification of the intervention strategies they endorse. In this study, wel argue, first of all, that in order to solve this deficit it is possible to link the ideas of polycentric/panarchic governance to a universalist theory of society. Next, we will explore the potential of Niklas Luhmann’s social systems theory for this purpose since, like the mentioned perspectives, Luhmann’s work recognizes the distinct nature of interactions, groups, organizations, and society. Thirdly, we look at the main attributes that a sociological-based polycentric governance would present, the social problems to which it should respond and its basic principles. To do so, we pay special attention to the idea of systemic coordination. The analysis ends by discussing governance techniques coherent with this approach and the implications of this formulation for public policy design and implementation, as well as for modern democracy.
Visual Representations of Sustainable Development and Sustainability: The Politics of Systems Theory and the Power of Communication
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Felipe Aníbal Gutiérrez-Antinopai, Jonathan Barton
This paper has four aims. The first is to describe the evolution of sustainable development and sustainability, not only as a development paradigm with key discursive messages - such as society-nature synergies, intra- and inter-generational equity, and multi-scalar agency – but also as a visual discourse. The evolution of the paradigm since the early 1970s has been accompanied by many attempts at visual summary and reductionism. In this sense it is quite distinct from other development paradigms; for example, one struggles to find a single visual representation of neoliberalism. The first part of the paper reveals the evolution of these representations and their key features. The second aim relates to the construction of a framework for the paradigm that: a. builds on this visual tradition; b. emphasizes its political dimensions; c. supports the orientations of Agenda 2030; d. highlights the work of Abraham Maslow, Herman Daly, Donella Meadows and Bent Flyvbjerg. The third reflection of the paper relates to the ways in which these representations reveal the politics behind systems theory thinking, or attempts to suppress the political dimensions of sustainable development and sustainability. Finally, the role of these visual tools in communicating the paradigm to a wider audience is discussed, also the strengths and limitations of these tools in terms of how they present the paradigm as a political construction.
Why Do Some Organizations Exhibit More Outwardly Oriented Sustainability Behaviors than Others? A Culture Theory Explanation
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Maxwell Chipulu
In this theoretical study, I consider the question: Why do some organizations exhibit more outwardly oriented, i.e. beyond self-serving, sustainability behaviors than others? I argue that organisation culture, comprising shared axioms, values, beliefs, and practices, is a key differentiator. I build a theoretical model, firstly by explaining how organisation culture evolve from the point of view of Cultural Immersion Theory, the Attraction-Selection-Attrition (ASA) model, Normative Isomorphism and Social Network Theory. I then draw from the sustainability literature to define and discuss sustainable axioms, values, and actions. Next, I link organisation culture to sustainability by exploring how therefore the sustainable axioms, values, and actions may be generated by organisation culture. Ultimately, I put forward several propositions regarding how certain cultural values delineated by GLOBE project framework are likely to support certain, outwardly oriented, sustainability behaviors, including those pertinent to the environment, society, and economy. I also offer propositions on interactions among organisation culture dimensions that may enhance or inhibit sustainable behaviors. My research may uncover ways organizations can embed deep-rooted sustainability ethos beyond the superficial initiatives motivated by self-serving, business concerns.
