文章基本信息

标题：Synapses in the Network: Learning in Governance Networks in the Context of Environmental Management
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作者：Jens Newig ; Dirk Günther ; Claudia Pahl-Wostl 等
期刊名称：Ecology and Society
印刷版ISSN：1708-3087
电子版ISSN：1708-3087
出版年度：2010
卷号：15
期号：4
出版社：The Resilience Alliance
摘要：In the face of apparent failures to govern complex environmental problems by the centralstate, new modes of governance have been proposed in recent years. Network governance is an emergingconcept that has not yet been consolidated. In network governance, processes of (collective) learningbecome an essential feature. The key issue approached here is the mutual relations between network structureand learning, with the aim of improving environmental management. Up to now, there have been fewattempts to apply social network analysis (SNA) to learning and governance issues. Moreover, little researchexists that draws on structural characteristics of networks as a whole, as opposed to actor-related networkmeasures. Given the ambiguities of the concepts at stake, we begin by explicating our understanding ofboth networks and learning. In doing so, we identify the pertinent challenge of individual as opposed tocollective actors that make up a governance network. We introduce three learning-related functions thatnetworks can perform to different degrees: information transmission, deliberation, and resilience. Weaddress two main research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of networks that foster collectivelearning in each of the three dimensions. To this end, we consider SNA-based network measures such asnetwork size, density, cohesion, centralization, or the occurrence of weak as opposed to strong ties. (2)How does collective learning alter network structures. We conclude by outlining a number of open issuesfor further research
关键词：collaboration; collective learning; deliberation; effectiveness; information diffusion; network;governance; network resilience; social network analysis