Abstract
This chapter explores the relevance of polycentric governance – an approach whereby multiple, physically adjacent jurisdictions negotiate rules and policies to solve common problems – for managing converging knowledge, technologies, and society (CKTS). We trace the concept’s origins, its advantages and challenges, and how the latter might be surmounted. By offering a means for innovative and improvised collaboration, multiple access points for monitoring problems and reducing risks, and inclusive decision-making approaches, polycentric governance provides a valuable framework for CKTS management. However, traditional divisions of labor among intellectual disciplines – as well as other impediments – will require that adjustments be made to permit shared approaches to intellectual work, enhanced means of communication among protagonists, and achievement of common, collective goals that benefit large groups of collaborators and society as a whole – as opposed to merely satisfying the needs of individual CKTS entrepreneurs or investigators.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Araral E, Hartley K (2013) Polycentric governance for a new environmental regime: theoretical frontiers in policy reform and public administration. Paper presented at international conference on public policy, Grenoble, 26–28
Copeland BR, Taylor MS (2009) Trade, tragedy, and the commons. Am Econ Rev 99:725–749
Dietz T, Stern P (eds) (2008) Public participation in environmental assessment and decision making. Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. National Research Council of the National Academies, Washington, DC
Evers J, D’Silva J (2009) Knowledge transfer from citizens’ panels to regulatory bodies in the domain of nano-enabled medical technologies. Innov Eur J Soc Sci Res 22:125–142
Fleischer T, Haslinger J, Jahnel J, Seitz SB (2012a) Focus group discussions inform concern assessment and support scientific policy advice for the risk governance of nanomaterials. Int J Emerg Technol Soc 10:79–95
Fleischer T, Jahnel J, Seitz SB (2012b) NanoSafety – risk governance of manufactured nanoparticles. Final report. European Parliament, Directorate General for Internal Policies, Brussels
Futrell R (2003) Framing processes, cognitive liberation, and NIMBY protest in the U.S. chemical-weapons disposal conflict. Sociol Inq 73:359–386
Grafton RQ (2000) Governance of the commons: a role for the state? Land Econ 76:504–517
Graham M (2002) Democracy by disclosure: the rise of technopopulism. Brookings, Washington, DC
Hammond JS, Keeney RJ, Raiffa H (1999) Smart choices: a practical guide to making better decisions. Harvard Business School, Cambridge
Hurd J (2005) Converging technologies in developing countries: passionate voices, fruitful actions. In: Bainbridge WS, Roco MC (eds) Managing nano-bio-infocogno innovations: converging technologies in society. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 103–117
Kamarck EC, Nye JS (eds) (2002) Governance.com: democracy in the information age. Brookings, Washington, DC
Lebel L, Anderies JM, Campbell B, Folke C, Hatfield-Dodds S, Hughes TP, Wilson J (2006) Governance and the capacity to manage resilience in regional social-ecological systems. Ecol Soc 11:19–38
Mali F (2008) Bringing converging technologies closer to civil society: the role of precautionary principles in risk technology assessment. Paper presented at knowledge politics and converging technologies – European Commission conference, Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, 6–7 May 1978
McGinnis MD (2005) Costs and challenges of polycentric governance. Paper presented at the workshop on analyzing problems of polycentric governance in the growing EU, Humboldt University, Berlin, 16–17 June 2005
National Citizens Technology Forum (2008) Converging technologies for human enhancement. Report of the California delegation, Sacramento
Ostrom E (2010) Beyond markets and states: polycentric governance of complex economic systems. Am Econ Rev 100:1–33
Ostrom V, Tiebout CM, Warren R (1961) The organization of government in metropolitan areas: a theoretical inquiry. Am Polit Sci Rev 55:831–842
Renn O, Roco MC (2006) White paper on nanotechnology risk governance. International Risk Governance Council, Geneva
Roco M (2012) Technology convergence. In: Bainbridge WS (ed) Leadership in science and technology – a reference handbook. Sage, Thousand Oaks, pp 210–219
Roco M, Bainbridge W, Tonn B, Whitesides G (eds) (2013) Convergence of knowledge, technology and society: beyond convergence of nano-bio-info-cognitive technologies. Springer, Basel
Scholl G, Petschow U, Ferdinand JP (2012) Deliberating converging technologies – an international comparative perspective on public engagement with emerging technologies preface to special edition. Int J Emerg Technol Soc 10:1–5
Smith A, Stirling A (2010) The politics of social-ecological resilience and sustainable sociotechnical transitions. Ecol Soc 15:11–23
Tonn B (2005) Coevolution of social science and emerging technologies. In: Bainbridge WS, Roco MC (eds) Managing nano-bio-infocogno innovations: converging technologies in society. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 309–316
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this entry
Cite this entry
Feldman, D. (2014). Polycentric Governance. In: Bainbridge, W., Roco, M. (eds) Handbook of Science and Technology Convergence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04033-2_71-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04033-2_71-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-04033-2
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Computer SciencesReference Module Computer Science and Engineering