Wicked Problems & Governance
Wicked problem – complex, open-ended issue with no clear or
definitive solution.
Less wicked problem – partially solvable, less complex issue.
Authoritative strategy – top-down approach led by experts or
government.
Competitive strategy – solving issues through rivalry or
competition.
Collaborative strategy – joint decision-making among multiple
stakeholders.
Tinkering – pragmatic, flexible management of complexity (Law).
Governance – collective steering involving state, market, and civil
society.
Meta-governance – government coordinating or guiding different
governance modes.
Hard law – binding instruments (laws, taxes, enforcement).
Soft law – voluntary or incentive-based instruments (subsidies,
campaigns).
Self-regulation – organizations create and enforce their own rules.
Co-regulation – joint rule-making between government and private
actors.
Civil Society & NGOs
Civil society – voluntary sphere between state and market
(associations, NGOs, citizens).
Associational life – network of voluntary associations that
strengthen democracy.
Advocacy – influencing policy and raising awareness on social
issues.
Service provision – NGOs delivering social or public services.
Regulatory role (NGOs) – NGOs setting and monitoring standards
(e.g., Fairtrade, FSC).
Accountability – obligation of NGOs to be transparent and
answerable to stakeholders.
Legitimacy – acceptance of an organization’s authority and actions
by the public.
Professionalization – shift toward formal, expert-driven NGO
structures.
Environmental Governance & Public Interest
Environmental state – a state responsible for environmental
protection and regulation.
Polycentric governance – multiple autonomous yet
interdependent centers of decision-making.
Public interest – the general welfare or collective good of society.
Four perspectives (Alexander):
1. Utilitarian – maximizing collective benefit.
2. Unitary – one shared societal interest.
Wicked problem – complex, open-ended issue with no clear or
definitive solution.
Less wicked problem – partially solvable, less complex issue.
Authoritative strategy – top-down approach led by experts or
government.
Competitive strategy – solving issues through rivalry or
competition.
Collaborative strategy – joint decision-making among multiple
stakeholders.
Tinkering – pragmatic, flexible management of complexity (Law).
Governance – collective steering involving state, market, and civil
society.
Meta-governance – government coordinating or guiding different
governance modes.
Hard law – binding instruments (laws, taxes, enforcement).
Soft law – voluntary or incentive-based instruments (subsidies,
campaigns).
Self-regulation – organizations create and enforce their own rules.
Co-regulation – joint rule-making between government and private
actors.
Civil Society & NGOs
Civil society – voluntary sphere between state and market
(associations, NGOs, citizens).
Associational life – network of voluntary associations that
strengthen democracy.
Advocacy – influencing policy and raising awareness on social
issues.
Service provision – NGOs delivering social or public services.
Regulatory role (NGOs) – NGOs setting and monitoring standards
(e.g., Fairtrade, FSC).
Accountability – obligation of NGOs to be transparent and
answerable to stakeholders.
Legitimacy – acceptance of an organization’s authority and actions
by the public.
Professionalization – shift toward formal, expert-driven NGO
structures.
Environmental Governance & Public Interest
Environmental state – a state responsible for environmental
protection and regulation.
Polycentric governance – multiple autonomous yet
interdependent centers of decision-making.
Public interest – the general welfare or collective good of society.
Four perspectives (Alexander):
1. Utilitarian – maximizing collective benefit.
2. Unitary – one shared societal interest.
