Reflexive capacity in local networks for sustainable development: integrating conflict and understanding into a multi-level perspective Transition Framework

ABSTRACT

One core element of reflexive governance is the reflexive capacity-building of actors involved in governance networks. A wider range of actors have to be empowered to understand and improve governance arrangements in order to create second-order reflexivity. As a contribution to this challenge, a heuristic framework is developed from two complementary approaches to reflexive governance: the multi-level perspective (MLP) and the conflict-orientated understanding (COU) approach. The new framework is applied to two case studies – water management and long-term climate adaptation – where it has helped to develop a participatory process to analyse and reflect on local networks and multi-stakeholder arenas. The two contrasting processes are analysed and their contribution to reflexive capacity building is assessed. Building on the findings, further advancements of MLP, COU, and the concept of reflexive governance are recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Reflexive capacity
• governance
• multi-level perspective
• transition
• sustainable development

Acknowledgements

I would like thank both editors of this special issue for their thorough support and the reviewers for their thoughtful and constructive suggestions. I am particularly grateful to Jürgen Schaper who cooperated with me in the Cooperation Network case study and conducted all the interviews I was allowed to analyse and to Cornelius Laaser who cooperated with me in the Future Workshop case study.