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Analysing institutional change in environmental governance: exploring the concept of ‘institutional work’

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  • R. Beunen
  • J.J. Patterson

Abstract

Institutional work focuses on the role of actors in creating, maintaining, or disrupting institutional structures. The concept has its origin in organisational studies. In this paper, we rethink and redefine institutional work to make it fit for use in the multi-actor and multi-level context of environmental governance. We survey key approaches to institutional change in the literature, and argue that institutional work should have a central place within this theorising. Drawing on the insights from this literature, we argue that studying institutional work should involve a look at both the actions taken by actors, as well as the resulting effects. We identify a critical need for attention to the fundamentally political character of institutional work, the cumulative effects of action taken by multiple actors, and communicative and discursive dimensions. Overall, the concept of institutional work opens up new possibilities for unpacking the longstanding challenge of understanding institutional change in environmental governance.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Beunen & J.J. Patterson, 2019. "Analysing institutional change in environmental governance: exploring the concept of ‘institutional work’," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(1), pages 12-29, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:62:y:2019:i:1:p:12-29
    DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2016.1257423
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    Cited by:

    1. Srivastav, Sugandha & Rafaty, Ryan, 2021. "Five Worlds of Political Strategy in the Climate Movement," INET Oxford Working Papers 2021-07, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    2. Syed Haider Khalil & Syed Mohsin Ali Shah & Fahad Sultan & Muhammad Ibrahim Khan & Sher Nawaz, 2023. "Categories and Institutional Change: Contesting the Uncontested Space Through National Rankings," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    3. Pawel Mikolajczak, 2021. "What affects employment by NGOs? Counteraction to precarious employment in the Polish non-profit sector in the perspective of COVID-19 pandemic crises," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 12(3), pages 761-788, September.
    4. Ntuli, Herbert & Mukong, Alfred Kechia & Kimengsi, Jude Ndzifon, 2022. "Institutions and environmental resource extraction within local communities in Mozambique," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    5. Kristof Van Assche & Martijn Duineveld & Monica Gruezmacher & Raoul Beunen, 2021. "Steering as Path Creation: Leadership and the Art of Managing Dependencies and Reality Effects," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 369-380.
    6. Gratiela Georgiana Noja & Mirela Cristea & Nicoleta Sirghi & Camelia-Daniela Hategan & Paolo D’Anselmi, 2019. "Promoting Good Public Governance and Environmental Support for Sustainable Economic Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.

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