Governing Complexity

This book explains why governance is polycentric and what that means in practice, using examples of complex natural resource management.

Building on the work of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom and the 'Bloomington School', Governing Complexity provides an updated explanation of polycentric governance, and critically evaluates its usefulness through examples in contemporary settings involving complex natural resource systems.There has been a rapid expansion of academic interest and publications on polycentricity. In the contemporary world, nearly all governance situations are polycentric, but people are not necessarily used to thinking this way. Governing Complexity provides an updated explanation of the concept of polycentric governance. The editors provide examples of it in contemporary settings involving complex natural resource systems, as well as a critical evaluation of the utility of the concept. With contributions from leading scholars in the field, this book makes the case that polycentric governance arrangements exist and it is possible for polycentric arrangements to perform well, persist for long periods, and adapt. Whether they actually function well, persist, or adapt depends on multiple factors that are reviewed and discussed, both theoretically and with examples from actual cases.