The European Commission's ability to deal with wicked problems: an in-depth case study of the governance of food security

ABSTRACT

The European Commission's ability to cope with wicked problems is generally viewed as inadequate because of its hierarchical and inflexible modus operandi. Recent research suggests, however, that the Commission may be better equipped to deal with wicked problems than is commonly assumed. To elucidate these contradictory viewpoints, we analysed conditions that enable or constrain the Commission in dealing with wicked problems. To do so, we applied a framework consisting of five governance capabilities required to deal with wicked problems (reflexivity, responsiveness, resilience, revitalization and rescaling) to a case study of how the Commission deals with the wicked problem of food security. Although our results confirm some of the earlier critiques, we have also identified various enabling conditions, most notably inter-service and inter-institutional procedures and structures, boundary arrangements and a widespread tolerance of frame conflicts, uncertainty and cross-scale dynamics. However, the Commission lacks a mechanism to continuously monitor and adjust its capabilities, thereby running the risk of challenges remaining unforeseen and unanticipated.

KEY WORDS:

• European Commission
• European Union
• food security
• governance
• governance capabilities
• wicked problems

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Part of this study was performed and written during a temporary stay at the Antwerp Centre for Institutions and Multilevel Politics (ACIM) at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, from February to June 2014. This stay was funded by a Junior Researcher Grant from the Wageningen School of Social Sciences. A previous draft of this article was presented at the 8th General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research in Glasgow in September 2014. The authors would like to thank Peter Bursens, Herman Lelieveldt, Robbert Biesbroek and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on previous drafts of this article.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RESEARCH MATERIALS

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the Taylor & Francis website, doi: 10.1080/13501763.2015.1068836.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeroen J.L. Candel

Biographical notes: Jeroen Candel is a PhD candidate in food governance at the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

Gerard E. Breeman

Gerard Breeman is assistant professor at the Institute of Public Administration at Leiden University, Campus The Hague, the Netherlands.

Catrien J.A.M. Termeer

Katrien Termeer is professor of public administration and policy at Wageningen University, the Netherlands.