Legitimising activism in democracy: A place for antagonism in environmental governance

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lillian Fougère ◽  
Sophie Bond
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Radical Democracy ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Fluid Shifts ◽  
Environmental Decision

Despite the appearance of a range of opportunities for formal participation in environmental decision-making in Aotearoa New Zealand, postpolitics is very much present, annulling dissent, upholding dominant neoliberal ideals and delegitimising other voices. Through our analysis of a consent decision about a proposed coal mine on the West Coast of Aotearoa New Zealand and the experiences of opposing environmentalists, we offer empirical evidence that illustrates the fluid shifts between antagonism and agonism (after Mouffe) throughout this ‘democratic’ process. We argue that while aspirations for agonism should remain, it is important that planning theory pays attention to the role that power and hegemony play in what could otherwise be considered agonistic planning. Antagonism, the undesirable in Mouffe’s radical democracy, has a critical role in neoliberal contexts, rupturing postpolitics and creating spaces of dissent so that agonistic contestation can provide for robust and rigorous debate in environmental decision-making.

A Procedural Idea of Environmental Democracy: the 'Débat Public' Paradigm within the EU Framework

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-106
Author(s):  
Alberto Nicòtina
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Research Subject ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Débat Public ◽  
Environmental Democracy ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Environmental Decision

The aim of this paper is to analyse the 'débat public' procedure, which finds its roots in the Canadian legal system and its most defined formulation in France, and which more recently has been circulating to Italy – first at the regional level and, since 2016, at the national level. The first part of the paper will thus be devoted to a historical overview of the débat public and to how it is implemented in each of the two legal systems. The second part will subsequently distil the 'paradigm', i. e. those distinctive traits that make the débat public an autonomous research subject, within the multi-layered legislative framework of environmental governance in Europe. Three main features of the paradigm will be pointed out (Participation, Effectiveness, Authority), thus highlighting how it can respond to the needs in light of which it has been designed, namely dealing with proximity conflicts and providing a forum for the construction of shared rational decisions in environmental decision-making. The paper eventually leads to the conclusion that the débat public, with its codified rules and procedures, represents the first and probably the most noticeable attempt towards the institutionalisation and generalisation of deliberative practices in environmental decision-making, thus towards developing a procedural stance in environmental democracy.

scholarly journals The incorporation of Māori environmental values as part of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Implementation Programme in the Wellington Region, Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Bryn Cal Hickson Rowden
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Implementation Programme

<p>In recent years, there has been significant efforts to create frameworks in which Māori values are incorporated as part of environmental management processes in Aotearoa New Zealand(Forster, 2014; Harmsworth et al., 2016). This research explores the factors that influence the incorporation of Māori values at the local government level, and what barriers Māori values face to being incorporated in environmental management. This research focused on a case study of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committe Implementation Programme process in the Wellington region. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information on the opinions of members of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee. The interviews were analysed using a critical theory approach. The research found that there was a clear discrepancy between the values and behaviours expressed by some non-Māori members of the Committee. The result of such a discrepancy was that Māori values were not sufficiently part of environmental decision making. Such a discrepancy was a result of the political structures of the Regional Council’s Whaitua Implementation Programme process. The majority of the decision-making power was found to be situated ‘higher’ up in the organisation, outside of the Committee. Overall this research found that there are important opportunities to make sure iwi values are not only included, but form the basis of decisions.</p>

scholarly journals The incorporation of Māori environmental values as part of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Implementation Programme in the Wellington Region, Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Bryn Cal Hickson Rowden
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Implementation Programme

<p>In recent years, there has been significant efforts to create frameworks in which Māori values are incorporated as part of environmental management processes in Aotearoa New Zealand(Forster, 2014; Harmsworth et al., 2016). This research explores the factors that influence the incorporation of Māori values at the local government level, and what barriers Māori values face to being incorporated in environmental management. This research focused on a case study of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committe Implementation Programme process in the Wellington region. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information on the opinions of members of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee. The interviews were analysed using a critical theory approach. The research found that there was a clear discrepancy between the values and behaviours expressed by some non-Māori members of the Committee. The result of such a discrepancy was that Māori values were not sufficiently part of environmental decision making. Such a discrepancy was a result of the political structures of the Regional Council’s Whaitua Implementation Programme process. The majority of the decision-making power was found to be situated ‘higher’ up in the organisation, outside of the Committee. Overall this research found that there are important opportunities to make sure iwi values are not only included, but form the basis of decisions.</p>

scholarly journals Challenges and Achievements beyond Decision-Making Power of Planners: How Are Decisions on Planning for Stream Restoration Made in South Korea?

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2708
Author(s):  
Chang-Yu Hong
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Stream Restoration ◽  
Environmental Planning ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Planning Theory ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Current Thinking ◽  
Environmental Decision

This research covers existing planning theory and possible ways to improve the decision-making process in Korean stream restoration. First, it attempts to recognize what extent the Korean stream restoration case follows Western environmental decision-making models. Additionally, key concepts and factors of environmental decision-making are discussed to build a foundation of planning theory. This research reveals key works in the broad and changing field of stream restoration that provides the foundation for understanding Korean water resource planning. To recognize the challenges and achievements of this planning, this paper first notes that, while technical perspectives of the engineering field have historically dominated stream restoration, current thinking recognizes the much greater complexity of stream restoration requires more than only engineering perspectives. After reviewing the literature in related areas, this research considers what the planning field has to offer. In the conclusion, this author argues that the application of citizen-oriented decision-making approaches could lead to better water resource management. Admittedly, this may still be hindered by political uncertainty and power conflicts caused by science-dominant environmental planning.

Risk today, certainty tomorrow: The influence of construal level on environmental decision-making

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Sweeney ◽  
Amanda Hamilton ◽  
Ashley Beck ◽  
Brian Detweiler-Bedell ◽  
Jerusha Detweiler-Bedell
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Construal Level ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Decision
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