Between fragmentation and connectivity

Governance systems are typically organized along specialized units, according to distinct competences, and specific time frames. However, sustainability transformations require cutting across these boundaries between temporal, spatial and jurisdictional scales, between public and private spheres, and between science, policy and society. Sustainability challenges need to be addressed by polycentric governance arrangements, which are characterized by complex interactions across scales and actor configurations. Whether or not and why arrangements operate as a connected system, or disaggregate into a fragmented constellation is not clear. This research line develops an understanding of:

1. How actors construct and operate across boundaries and to what effect and
2. Which institutions (including norms, rules, and beliefs) foster interconnectivity across these boundaries (e.g. through boundary objects, collaborative networks and participatory governance, or procedural instruments), or pose constraints.

Our contributions extend to crafting a comprehensive framework for dissecting the institutionalization of policy integration across diverse sectors grappling with cross-cutting challenges. Additionally, we delve into the intricate dynamics of navigating multiple scales within sustainability transformations through the politics of scale and scale framing. Moreover, our research sheds light on decision-making processes geared towards fostering long-term sustainability considerations in infrastructure projects. Recently, the research line has evolved to include interest in the role of information technology, big data and social media in understanding societal transformations, and their potential use for analysing efforts at governing them. Data science methods are a means to study the way actors organize and connect across boundaries, or actually introduce new boundaries.

• The governance challenge of implementing long-term sustainability objectives with present-day investment decisions
• Polycentric energy governance: Under what conditions do energy communities scale?
• Tensions between global-scale and national-scale governance: The strategic use of scale frames to promote sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia