Evolutionary Governance Theory

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. The Search for Evolutionary Approaches to Governance

      • Raoul Beunen, Kristof Van Assche, Martijn Duineveld

      Pages 3-17

   3. An Overview of EGT’s Main Concepts

      • Kristof Van Assche, Raoul Beunen, Martijn Duineveld

      Pages 19-33

3. Configuration of Actors and Institutions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 35-35

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   2. Planning and Law in Evolving Governance

      • Kristof Van Assche, Raoul Beunen, Anneke Smit, Gert Verschraegen

      Pages 37-55

   3. The Evolution of Welfare State Governance

      • Gert Verschraegen

      Pages 57-71

   4. Cultures of Informality and Networks of Power in Post-Soviet Non-democracies

      • Nicolas Hayoz

      Pages 73-85

   5. Agricultural Resources Governance in Uzbekistan: A System Theory-Inspired Perspective on Evolutionary Governance

      • Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Kristof van Assche, Anastasiya Shtaltovna

      Pages 87-105

   6. The Emergence of Governance and the Function of Law

      • Poul F. Kjaer

      Pages 107-117

   7. Evolutionary Governance, Sustainability, and Systems Theory: The Case of Central Asia

      • Nodir Djanibekov, Vladislav Valentinov

      Pages 119-134

4. Configurations of Power/Knowledge

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-135

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   2. Power/Knowledge as a Driver for Governance Evolution

      • Raoul Beunen, Kristof Van Assche, Martijn Duineveld

      Pages 137-141

   3. The Role of Fantasy in Public Policy Formation

      • Michael Gunder

      Pages 143-154

   4. Topology and Object Formation

      • Iulian Barba Lata

      Pages 155-165

   5. Performances and Performativities of Resilience

      • Jean Hillier

      Pages 167-183

   6. Heated Debates: The Transformation of Urban Warming into an Object of Governance in the Netherlands

      • Daan Boezeman, Henk Jan Kooij

      Pages 185-203

   7. Evolution of Governance or Genealogy of Power?

      • Guus Dix

      Pages 205-212

5. Case Studies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 213-213

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   2. Bridging Promises and (Dis)Illusions: Deliberative Democracy in an Evolutionary Perspective

      • Luigi Pellizzoni

      Pages 215-232

This volume presents empirical studies and theoretical reflections on Evolutionary Governance Theory (EGT), its most important concepts and their interrelations. As a novel theory of governance, EGT understands governance as radically evolutionary, which implies that all elements of governance are subject to evolution, that these elements co-evolve and that many of them are the product of governance itself. Through this book we learn how communities understand themselves and their environment and why they create the complex structures and processes we analyze as governance paths. Authors from different disciplines develop the EGT framework further and apply it to a wide rage networks of power, governance of agricultural resources etc. The contributors also reflect on the possibilities and limitations of steering, intervention, management and development in a world continuously in flux. It bridges the gap between more fundamental and philosophical accounts of the social sciences and applied studies, offering theoretical advancements as well as practical recommendations.

• Development
• Evolutionary Approaches
• Governance
• Innovation Policy
• Management
• Public Policy
• Transition

• Faculty of Management, Science and Technology, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands

  Raoul Beunen

• Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

  Kristof Van Assche

• Cultural Geography Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

  Martijn Duineveld

Raoul Beunen is Assistant Professor of Environmental Governance at the Faculty of Management, Science & Technology at the Open University, Netherlands and Visiting Researcher at the Strategic Communication Group of Wageningen University. He works on Evolutionary Governance Theory in the fields of natural resource management and spatial planning. His research explores the potentials and limitations of environmental policy and planning in the perspective of adaptive governance and sustainability.

Kristof Van Assche is Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, Visiting Associate Professor in Strategic Communication, Wageningen University, and Research Fellow at ZEF/ Center for Development Research, Bonn University. He is interested in evolution and innovation in governance, with focus areas in development, environment, spatial planning and design. His work is often comparative in nature, including a fieldwork component and theoretical reflections.

Martijn Duineveld is Assistant Professor of Cultural Geography at Wageningen University. He works on Evolutionary Governance Theory in the fields of geography and urban planning. He studies the dynamics of power / knowledge and places, processes of inclusion and exclusion, object- and subject formation in Governance. He teaches on human geography, cultural geography, sustainability, landscape architecture and planning. He is active in both academic and societal debates on citizenship, planning, governance and democratization.

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