| 1. |
- Ahlborg, Helene, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Theorizing power in political ecology: the where of power in resource governance projects
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Political Ecology. - : University of Arizona. - 1073-0451. ; 25:1, s. 381-401
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Power and politics have been central topics from the early days of Political Ecology. There are different and sometimes conflicting conceptualizations of power in this field that portray power alternatively as a resource, personal attribute or relation. The aim of this article is to contribute to theorizations of power by probing contesting views regarding its role in societal change and by presenting a specific conceptualization of power, one which draws on both political ecology and sociotechnical approaches in science and technology studies. We review how power has been conceptualized in the political ecology field and identify three trends that shaped the current discussion. We then develop our conceptual discussion and explicitly ask where power emerges in processes of resource governance projects. We identify four locations that we illustrate empirically through an example of rural electrification in Tanzania that aimed at catalyzing social and economic development by providing renewable energy-based electricity services to people. Our analysis supports the argument that power is relational and productive, and it draws on science and technology studies to bring to the fore the critical role of non-human elements in co-constitution of society—technology—nature. This leads us to see power exercise as having contradictory and ambiguous effects. We conclude that by exploring the tension between human agency and constitutive power, we keep the politics alive throughout the analysis and are able to show why intentional choices and actions really matter for how resource governance projects play out in everyday life.
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| 2. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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How task heterogeneity and frequency relates to knowledge codification: Evaluating the Shared Construction Guidelines (SCG) of 24 Swedish Public Client Organizations
- 2017
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Ingår i: 9th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organization. ; , s. 1-9
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over a sustained period of time, organizational theorists have argued that public sector organizationsare more inefficient than their private counterparts. Recent studies have explained these inefficienciesas the result of having to do with capabilities rather than resources thereby calling for an improvementof the capabilities of public organizations. A key mechanism for achieving such improvements is thearticulation and codification of knowledge. This study examines an attempt at codifying knowledge inthe form of a set of shared construction guidelines (SCG) employed by 24 large public clientorganizations in the Municipality of Gothenburg, Sweden. Specifically, these guidelines are viewedwith respect to the framework of Zollo and Winter (2002) in terms of how organizations with high taskheterogeneity and low task frequency can more effectively develop dynamic capabilities through thedeliberate learning mechanism of knowledge codification. Preliminary results indicate that taskfrequency and organizational size are stronger indicators than heterogeneity in deciding whether apublic client organization utilizes knowledge codification systems such as the SCG.
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| 3. |
- Große, Christine, Fil.Dr, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Information-flawing Filters in Critical Infrastructure Protection : The deficient Information Basis in a Swedish Approach
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Critical Infrastructures. - 1475-3219 .- 1741-8038. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Various societal functions, such as healthcare, freight transports, water supplies and electricity, ensure the daily life, endurance and progress of modern societies. The protection of such critical functions requires comprehensive information processing. Based on evidence from documents on the Swedish planning process STYREL and interviews with entrusted decisionmakers at county administrative boards, municipalities and power grid operators, this study aims to crystallise information pathways and flaws to highlight information filtration and alteration. Analyses of the material reveal a set of information-flawing filters, such as information withholding or loss when sharing, information scarcity in criticality assessments and ad-hoc information creation due to scarcity. Because of these filters, the Swedish process causes an altering of information that affects the quality of decisions and the emergency response plan that relies on them. Thus, this study indicates deficiencies that relate to information sharing, information security and decision-making that pose risks to citizens and businesses.
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| 4. |
- Hildingsson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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The green state and industrial decarbonisation
- 2019
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Ingår i: Environmental Politics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0964-4016 .- 1743-8934. ; 28:5, s. 909-928
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2018 The Author(s). Published with license by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group The large share of carbon emitted by energy-intensive industries in the extraction and processing of basic materials must be limited to decarbonise society and the economy. Ways in which the state can govern industrial decarbonisation and contributes to green state theory are explored by addressing a largely ignored issue: the green state’s industrial relations and its role in industrial governance. With insights from a Swedish case study, the tension between the state’s economic imperative and ecological concerns in greening industry are shown to persist. However, as the energy-intensive industry’s previously privileged position in the economy is weakening, industry is opened to decarbonisation strategies. While the case exposes a number of governance challenges, it also suggests potential areas where the state can pursue decarbonisation in energy-intensive industry and points the way to an active role of the green state in governing industrial decarbonisation and greening industry.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Keskitalo, E. Carina H., et al.
(författare)
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Why Organization May Be the Primary Limitation to Implementing Sustainability at the Local Level : Examples from Swedish Case Studies
- 2017
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Ingår i: Resources. - : MDPI AG. - 2079-9276. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Much of the effort to address environmental issues at the local level has focused on defining principles and aims rather than addressing the operational difficulties of implementation. Drawing upon insights from sustainability scholarship, this study reviews two cases: the development of a Swedish standard for implementing sustainable development at municipality, county council, and regional levels, and attempts by a small rural municipality to establish a process towards implementing the Aalborg Commitments. The research illustrates the specific organizational and managerial complexity of these case study experiences. It concludes that an organizational focus on integration and mainstreaming deserves particular attention to achieve broader sustainability, or related environmental or adaptation goals. The results, in particular, highlight the role that integrated management systems can play for sustainability work at the local level.
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| 8. |
- Helgegren, Ida, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Facilitating factors for community-managed wastewater systems in the Kanata metropolitan region, Bolivia
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sustainable Cities and Society. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-6707. ; 75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Provision of safe sanitation services is a major challenge in low and middle-income countries where adequate wastewater management is almost entirely lacking or insufficient. Community-managed wastewater systems are increasingly seen as part of the solution to this challenge. There is, however, a lack of in-depth understanding regarding how these communal systems are affected by external factors. Through a qualitative case study of the wastewater sector of the Kanata metropolitan region, Bolivia, this paper aims to contribute to filling this knowledge gap. A variety of data collection and analysis procedures resulted in two main outcomes. First, a shared common vision regarding the development of the wastewater sector and the role of community actors was highlighted as crucial for strengthening communal wastewater management. Secondly, facilitating factors that promote community-managed wastewater services were identified, i.e. financing possibilities, technical support, legal support, formal and informal networks, continuous dialogue, trust, compatibililty with local institutions, control of territory and availability of contractors and builders. The results provide guidance for both policymakers and development practitioners that aim to strengthen community-managed wastewater systems, as well as contribute to increased theoretical understanding.
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| 9. |
- Ahlborg, Helene, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Powering institutions for development - Organizational strategies for decentralized electricity provision
- 2018
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Ingår i: Energy Research and Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6296. ; 38, s. 77-86
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study addresses the question of how to achieve and sustain well-functioning local service delivery in institutionally difficult contexts, characterised by low levels of generalised trust, widespread corruption and poor institutions. We study a relatively successful case of decentralized electrification in Tanzania, and the process whereby an international NGO establishes a small-scale hydropower system with a local utility to own and operate it. Building on institutional theory, we investigate how to build trust in an organization, through a strategy of credible commitment; and how free-riding problems can be handled in a local development project. The qualitative study includes 119 semistructured interviews with project staff, villagers, and local and district government, observations and document analysis. The results indicate the importance of a positive ‘history of play’, sustained over time, and keeping distance from corrupt institutions, in order to build trust. Strict enforcement of rules was decisive for handling free riding behaviours, and impartiality in enforcement for perceptions of legitimacy and trustworthiness. Deviations undermined relations of trust. The results add nuance to more generic theoretical propositions and provide insights on un/intended consequences of institutional strategies. These are relevant for creating and sustaining local service organizations for electricity access and other public goods.
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| 10. |
- Bondelind, Mia, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Building trust: the importance of democratic legitimacy in the formation of consumer attitudes toward drinking water
- 2019
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Ingår i: Water Policy. - : IWA Publishing. - 1366-7017 .- 1996-9759. ; 21:1, s. 1-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to explore the role of democratic decision legitimacy in the formation of consumer attitudes toward drinking water. Using consumer-level data on the decision to change the drinking water sources in two Swedish cities, three core sets of variables were constructed: (1) the overall democratic decision legitimacy, defined as the citizens' support for the decision; (2) the input, throughput and output dimensions of decision legitimacy, representing the citizens' perceived opportunity to provide input, their ability to oversee, as well as their level of satisfaction with the outcome of the decision-making process; and (3) consumer attitudes toward drinking water, comprising trust, risk perception and acceptance. The results of the study provide support for the proposed mechanism that consumers that perceive a decision-making process more positively also tend to support the ultimate decision more, which in turn helps to establish more positive consumer attitudes towards their drinking water. Consequently, democratic legitimacy is an important precursor for building trust. This is particularly important if a waterborne outbreak has negatively impacted consumers' trust in their water, and when political and engineering decisions must be made.
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