Document Type : scientific-research article
Authors
1 Department of Environmental Planning, Management, and HSE, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Disaster Engineering, Education and Environmental Systems, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This research investigates the experiences and perceptions of key environmental governance actors in Tehran Province, specifically aiming to identify transformation pathways. Data were gathered via 28 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders representing governmental, private, civil society, and academic sectors. The collected data were subjected to discourse analysis and qualitative content analysis. The primary contribution of this study is the development and presentation of an integrated analytical-explanatory model for transformative environmental governance. By synthesizing perspectives from the schools of social-ecological resilience, socio-technical transitions, environmental justice, and new institutionalism, this model offers a context-sensitive and localized framework for deciphering the intricate dynamics of change within Iran's governance architecture.
The findings, emerging from the integration of theoretical frameworks and empirical data, identified six interconnected processes that function as core mechanisms propelling transformation: (1) cross-sectoral and horizontal networking, (2) social learning and institutional reflexivity, (3) redefinition of environmental discourse, (4) social pressure and civic activism, (5) creative engagement with legal frameworks, and (6) strategic coalition-building. These processes operate within a dynamic milieu shaped by various enabling and constraining factors, such as institutional distrust, conflicts of interest, deficient intersectoral coordination, cultural resistance, legal-institutional gaps, and the peril of superficial compliance. The proposed model elucidates the iterative, feedback-driven, and non-linear character of environmental governance, highlighting the complex interactions among diverse actors, knowledge systems, and institutional arrangements.
Consequently, transformative governance is conceptualized not as a linear or episodic event, but as a reflective and continuous flow. Within this flow, social capital, legal capacities, and the synergistic potential of alliances are continually reconfigured, thereby reinforcing the resilience of instituted reforms. This model serves as an analytical instrument for pinpointing leverage points, sequencing interventions, and anticipating obstacles to sustainable governance. It thus establishes a foundation for devising context-sensitive strategies aimed at the systematic institutionalization of environmental priorities.
Keywords
- Transformative governance
- social learning
- key transformative processes
- discourse analysis
- environmental governance
Main Subjects
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