Moving Outside or Inside? Objectification and Reflexivity in the Governance of Socio-Technical Systems

Abstract

Two contrasting, ideal-typical conceptualizations of the relations between governance and socio-technical change are developed, based on different considerations of the roles and links between social appraisal and social commitment in governance. ‘Governance on the outside’ objectifies the socio-technical and is managerial in approach. ‘Governance on the inside’ is more reflexive about the role of governance in co-constituting the socio-technical and, consequently, more overtly political. Each conceptualization lends itself to contrasting strategies for dealing with uncertainty, ambiguity and power. Both forms exist to varying degrees in specific instances of socio-technical governance. Tensions between imperfect attempts to reconcile contradictions between the two drive governance dynamics. This paper develops a conceptual framework to help understand these dynamics.

Keywords:

• Reflexive governance
• socio-technical transitions
• sustainable development

Acknowledgement

Earlier versions of this paper were presented to various audiences and the authors are grateful to them for their feedback. Particular thanks go to to Richard Cowell, Andrew Flynn, René Kemp, Joseph Murphy, Jens Newig, Jan-Peter Voß and Jim Watson for helpful comments on earlier drafts of the paper. The usual disclaimers apply.

Notes

1. The term ‘realize’ is intended in both senses here: to come to understand ones interests; and to try and fulfil those interests (after Byrne, 1998).