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Public and Private Governance in Interaction: Changing Interpretations of Sovereignty in the Field of Sustainable Palm Oil

Author

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  • Greetje Schouten

    (Partnerships Resource Centre, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Otto Hospes

    (Public Administration and Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 100, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Since the 1990s, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and businesses have gained prominence as architects of new forms of transnational governance creating Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS). The legitimacy and effectiveness of VSS are dependent on interactions with public authorities and regulation. While studies suggest that the (perceived) gain or loss of sovereignty by a state shapes public–private interactions, we have little understanding on how states use or interpret sovereignty in their interactions with VSS. In this paper, we explore what interpretations of sovereignty are used by states at different ends of global value chains in interactions with VSS. Based on a comparative and longitudinal study of interactions of Indonesian and Dutch state actors with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, we conclude that states strategically use different and changing notions of sovereignty to control the policy and debate regarding sustainable palm oil. When interactions between public and private governance are coordinative in nature, notions of interdependent sovereignty are used. However, when interactions are competitive, domestic and Westphalian notions of sovereignty are used. Our results show conflicting interpretations and usages of sovereignty by different states, which might negatively impact the regulatory capacity within an issue field to address sustainability issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Greetje Schouten & Otto Hospes, 2018. "Public and Private Governance in Interaction: Changing Interpretations of Sovereignty in the Field of Sustainable Palm Oil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4811-:d:191083
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    10. Wenlong He & Wei Yang & Seong-jin Choi, 2018. "The Interplay Between Private and Public Regulations: Evidence from ISO 14001 Adoption Among Chinese Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 477-497, October.
    11. Robert Falkner, 2003. "Private Environmental Governance and International Relations: Exploring the Links," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 3(2), pages 72-87, May.
    12. Domenico Dentoni & Verena Bitzer & Greetje Schouten, 2018. "Harnessing Wicked Problems in Multi-stakeholder Partnerships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 333-356, June.
    13. Schouten, Greetje & Bitzer, Verena, 2015. "The emergence of Southern standards in agricultural value chains: A new trend in sustainability governance?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 175-184.
    14. Schouten, Greetje & Leroy, Pieter & Glasbergen, Pieter, 2012. "On the deliberative capacity of private multi-stakeholder governance: The Roundtables on Responsible Soy and Sustainable Palm Oil," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 42-50.
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    4. Fiona Kinniburgh & Henrik Selin & Noelle E. Selin & Miranda Schreurs, 2023. "When private governance impedes multilateralism: The case of international pesticide governance," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 425-448, April.
    5. Johnson, Adrienne, 2022. "The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and transnational hybrid governance in Ecuador’s palm oil industry," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
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    9. Noxolo Kunene & Yessica C.Y. Chung, 2020. "Sustainable Production Policy Impact on Palm Oil Firms’ Performance: Empirical Analysis from Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.

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