Institutional Perspectives
Lecture 1 - Introduction of the lecture (04/09/23)
Wicked problems; what are the societal problems of today? Climate change, public
transport, flooding infrastructure, COVID-19
Wicked problems are internal
related and they are not easy
to solve. For example COVID-
19; there were health issues,
environmental issues,
economic issues and social
issues which lead to
interventions, fake news and
trust issues which lead to
violence. The pandemic’s
complexity transcends health,
environment, economy, and
social boundaries. Any intervention triggers responses in those various fields. One measure
can affect another measure and so going on.
Wicked problems are difficult to define, it is hard to say what exactly the problem is. It
depends on interdependencies and multi-causal; economic, environmental etc. The solutions
of a wicked problem can lead to unforeseen consequences and there is no clear solution. A
wicked problem is socially complex and involves changing behavior. it sits astride
organizational boundaries and responsibilities. Wicked problems are seemingly intractable
with chronic policy failure.
There are no easy solutions in this way and that is why we need to try other sideways. It has
consequences and it can be negative. That is the wickedness of the problem.
Wicked problems are typical, specific
problems but there are other
complexity which are also important.
The framework of alternative types of
complex problems has created to give
some insight in the complexity of
different problems and on which level
they are:
On the one hand there is an
increasing complexity of problems and
on the other hand there are more
stakeholders involved. The
stakeholders can agree or disagree
with each other about the problems.
,A tame problem is the drinking water in the Netherlands. Another tame problem is the
collecting of waste in the Netherlands. With the tame problem you know what you need to
do. A politically complex problem is nitrogen. With this problem you don’t agree with each
other on the problem but we know what to do. A cognitively complex problem is AI, which
is really new. We don’t know what this technology can do and we certainly don’t know what
the effects are. A very wicked problem was COVID-19; eventually we found a way out.
Structural complexity: intractability of the technical aspects of the problem
Knowability: the nature of the problem or its solution is such that it is unknowable - that is:
the relevant information is hidden, disguised or intangible.
Knowledge fragmentation: the available knowledge is fragmented among multiple
stakeholders
Knowledge-framing: some of the knowledge receives either too much or too little attention
Interest-differentiation: the various stakeholders have interests (or values) which are
substantially in conflict with those of others.
Power-distribution: There is a dysfunctional distribution of power among stakeholders,
whereby very powerful actors can overwhelm less powerful ones
Policy impasse is a situation in which progress is impossible, especially because the
people involved cannot agree: The dispute had reached an impasse, as neither side would
compromise. An example is traffic congestion.
Policy failure is policies that are not properly working to solve the wicked problem. An
example is the availability of houses, and the housing crisis.
Policy fallout is a lot of policies and strategies to solve the wicked problem, but, we are
failing out of the ordinary. An example is the financial crisis, theory suggests that we cannot
be in such a bad debt. However, reality shows that we are in much more debt than
suggested.
Policy drama is a real crisis, an example is global warming.
Who solves all these issues? The state, the market and/or Civil Society
Step 1: Define the problem - the extent of wickedness
The nature of the problem. These are real problems with real consequences, we
have to start somewhere. We have been trying to solve (wicked) problems for many
years, sometimes with some progress, but why are these issues still there?
First, we need a good diagnosis of what is the problem; A good diagnosis feeds good
policies, good, effective and efficient governance.
Transformations and institutions
Institutions (in a broad sense) are important because it explains why ‘things go as they go’,
why people behave in a certain way, and their societal patterns. Working on spatial or
environmental transformations (often) means understanding these social and governance
patterns. Reflecting on them, and changing them...
Part 2: What is meant by institutions?
Policy stations, schools, and hospitals. They are all core institutions of our society, they
structure on how individuals behave. Individuals are reliant on institutions in their community.
The institutions make sure to meet the needs of society.
,Institutions can be seen as ‘rules of the
game’; we need rules that guide our
behavior.
If we change the rules of the games
within the institutions around or through
the actors, we solve the wicked problem
Institutions as patterns of behavior, or
ways of doing
Institutions as both social and societal
patterns (ways of doing) and
discourse (ways of thinking).
Institutional perspectives in terms of
‘schools’
● Historical view on institutions of a certain domain: very often a macro view
- Historical institutionalism: an approach that emphasizes how timing,
sequences and path dependence affect institutions, and shape social,
political, economic behavior and change.
● A ‘rational choice’ view on institutions: the changing rules of the game and the logic
of institutions as governance instruments, often related to a micro view of rational
individual behavior
- Rational choice institutionalism: is a theoretical approach to the study of
institutions arguing that actors use institutions to maximize their utility, and
that institutions affect rational individual behavior. Where do you set
incentives/subsidies, what stories do you tell? The rules of the spheres. Guide
individual action leading to a specific collective outcome. Oostrom is well
known with societal patterns.
● A sociological view on institutions: ‘patterns of behavior’, or ‘patterns of doing and
thinking’, a meso view - looking at practices, arrangements, regimes.
- Sociological institutionalism: is built upon behavioral psychology and the
sociology of organizations to develop a view of individual cognition and
collective decision-making within organizations. The more inclusive and
cultural view of institutions. More interpretations of the frame of people,
focussing on changing the frames.
(example) Energy policy in NL-A Historical institutional view
● Macro - level / ‘Cracking the codes’ of the energy system
● What (institutional) patterns must change if we want to
provoke a renewable energy transformation?
● Historical view: How have the Dutch become so dependent
on fossil fuels (coal, natural gas) in our societies and how
is this changing (gradually)
Core concept: Path dependency
“Once actors have ventured far down a particular path, they are likely to find it very difficult to
reverse course.” Only a ‘shock event’ would break the path…
, Path decency is a situation where the present policy choice is constrained or shaped by the
institutional paths that result from choices made in the past. It is important so you can
understand where you got stuck in the past. For example the shocking events in Groningen.
C} Sociological Institutionalism
● Connects to a broad, also cultural view on institutions
● It is about formal organizations, rules, procedures, yes..,
● But more importantly, about society’s informal rules, codes of conduct, metaphors,
symbols, ideology, problem conceptions, frames of meaning
Sociological perspective on institutions:
● What are the social patterns we live in?
● How do ideas in society gradually (or suddenly) change?
● What institutional regime is socially most appropriate?
● Often a meso level
Sociological - discursive view:
● Is energy a commodity that is produced by multinationals/ energy companies
necessarily?
● Can we (individuals) become energy producers? How does this change the ‘grid’ and
the market?
So, can we change our view of energy and therefore the energy market?
● Changing the frames…
Meso/micro: Rational choice perspectives
● What incentives are important for people with regard to energy efficiency and
housing?
● For example: When do they buy an electric car?
● What ‘rules of the game’ that guide energy behavior, must we change?
● What incentives work out best? What is a good/ optimal setting?
Part 3. On Governance
There are two ways to look at governance:
- From government to governance
New ways of dealing with policy and problems with
stakeholders, dialogics etc.
- Different modes of governance (including
government) Including the government
A synoptic view of (full) governance
● See Steurer 2013: Catch -all concept
● (full) governance is “full complexity of rule making in poly-centred, globalized
societies (...)”
● “formulating, promulgating, implementing and/or enforcing societally relevant rules
(binding or voluntary ones) by government, business and/or societal actors whereby
the rules can apply to others and to themselves”.
Can be by market and what the market sets itself, for their community.
