1st Edition

Environmental Policymaking and Stakeholder Collaboration Theory and Practice

By Shannon K. Orr Copyright 2014
    225 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    A critical appraisal of why environmental policies fail and succeed, Environmental Policymaking and Stakeholder Collaboration provides policy makers with the keys to navigating complicated environmental issues and stakeholder negotiations. It covers theories in environmental policy making and stakeholder management, compares and contrasts failed and successful process and policy, and includes practical guidelines and tools for the practitioner.

    More than just a theoretical examination, the book presents an extensive tool kit of more than 70 practical and applied ideas to guide the implementation of inclusive stakeholder collaboration. These ideas can be used by governments and organizations to improve decision making and ensure that stakeholders and the general public have a say in public policy. The book covers theories of stakeholder collaboration, building an understanding of why stakeholder collaboration is simultaneously critical for effective policy making and why it is so challenging.

    While the focus of this book is on environmental policymaking, the theories and tools can be applied to any issue. Government cannot be expected to solve our public problems in isolation: we must ensure that diverse interests are heard and represented in the policymaking process. This book is more than just a theoretical treatise about stakeholder collaboration; it is also a collection of applied and practical tools to ensure that collaboration is put into practice in ways that are effective and meaningful. It helps people with a passion for the environment understand how to get their voices heard and helps governments understand how to listen.

    Introduction
    Introduction
    Central Concepts
    Stakeholder Collaboration Planning
    Overview
    References

    Stakeholders: Theoretical Foundations
    Introduction
    Stakeholder Theories
    Interest-Based Typology
    Identifying Stakeholders
    Stakeholder Interests
    Stakeholder Participation
    Counterarguments to Participation
    Conclusion
    References
    Stakeholders and Decision Making
    Introduction
    Stakeholders and Public Policymaking
    Importance of Stakeholders for Policymaking
    Stakeholder and Agency Roles
    Inclusivity and Working with Marginalized Groups
    Conflict Management
    Measuring Effectiveness of Stakeholder Collaboration
    Working with Stakeholders in Policymaking
    Promoting Good Communication
    Stakeholder Participation Ideas in Practice
    Conclusion
    References
    Case Study: Yellowstone National Park
    Introduction
    Yellowstone National Park
    Bear Management
    Wolf Reintroduction
    Snowmobiles
    Bioprospecting and Benefits Sharing
    Wildfires
    Conclusion
    References
    Stakeholder Collaboration Tools
    Introduction
    Planning
    Recruitment Tools
    Identifying Stakeholder Interests
    Engagement Tools
    Strategic Thinking Tools
    Education
    Project Management Tools for Stakeholder Collaboration
    Communication and Teamwork Tools
    Conclusion
    References
    Index

    Biography

    Shannon K. Orr

    "Who can benefit from reading this book? I would say, everyone who is interested in governance and collaborative decision making. … The book is inspired by the author’s experiences with a real-life, international stakeholder collaboration during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change."
    —Agnieszka D Hunka, University of Twente, the Netherlands