Abstract
In chapter 1, we briefly mentioned some historical factors that may contribute to the transformation of complicated problems into wicked problems. These include broad, structural socioeconomic and demographic changes and also more immediate triggering events that polarize public debate and shift the political dynamics of environmental management dilemmas. Here we explore these themes in more detail. We also present and discuss three take-home lessons for public managers. We suggest that a public manager facing a wicked problem should (1) stop looking for the perfect solution; (2) seek instead a satisficingresponse; and (3) consider applying the iterative, analytic, adaptive, participatory process described in this book (particularly in chapters 6–9).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Judt, Tony. 2005. Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945. New York: Penguin Books.
Kraft, Michael E., and Norman J. Vig. 2010. “Environmental Policy over Four Decades: Achievements and New Directions.” In Environmental Policy: New Directions for the Twenty-First Century, 7th ed., edited by Norman J. Vig and Michael E. Kraft, 1–27. Washington, DC: CQ Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Island Press
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Balint, P.J., Stewart, R.E., Desai, A., Walters, L.C. (2011). Managing Wicked Environmental Problems. In: Wicked Environmental Problems. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-047-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-047-7_10
Publisher Name: Island Press, Washington, DC
Online ISBN: 978-1-61091-047-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)
