IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i16p7306-d1723372.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Power Dynamics in Cross-Sector Partnerships for Sustainable Socio-Ecological System Transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Sharon L. O’Sullivan

    (Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Daina Mazutis

    (Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

Abstract

This study aims to identify how power dynamics influence multi-stakeholder cross-sector partnership (CSP) processes for socio-ecological system (SES) transformation. We draw on a four dimensional framework of power (resource, decision-making, meaning-making and systemic) to analyze an in-depth, qualitative case study of a CSP that failed to progress much beyond the initial formation and strategic plan formulation stages of the CSP process. We uncover how the initial positioning of the CSP triggered diverse instances of power use (and power oversight) that had a dampening effect on the progress of this SES transformation initiative. Specifically, we reveal the paradoxical pitfalls of an overly collaborative approach during the early stages of a CSP initiative, and, in so doing, advance scholarship on CSPs as well as managing socio-ecological system transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharon L. O’Sullivan & Daina Mazutis, 2025. "The Role of Power Dynamics in Cross-Sector Partnerships for Sustainable Socio-Ecological System Transformation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7306-:d:1723372
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7306/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7306/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7306-:d:1723372. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.