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Contemporary challenges in environmental governance: technology, governance and the social licence
Citation
Cullen-Knox, C and Eccleston, R and Haward, M and Lester, E and Vince, J, Contemporary challenges in environmental governance: technology, governance and the social licence, Environmental Policy and Governance, 27, (1) pp. 3-13. ISSN 1756-932X (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
DOI: doi:10.1002/eet.1743
Abstract
The process through which societal actors can exert direct influence on the behaviour of organizations has gained increasing attention over the past two decades and is increasingly referred to as ‘social licence’ or ‘social licence to operate’. This paper documents the rise of social licence and analyses the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT), governance and the social licence. We argue that contemporary social licence and the increasingly prominent role societal actors have in private governance has been facilitated by technological innovation in the fields of media and communications, allowing interest groups to have a far greater reach, and direct interaction and engagement with the public, other interest groups and the industries concerned. Now, a larger population can rapidly contest traditional practices regardless of national borders, the issue concerned or the actors involved. The unpredictable, dynamic and subjective nature of social licence has prompted concerns regarding legitimacy of stakeholders, the information they disseminate and outcomes they promote. Subsequently, in an attempt to maintain political and corporate legitimacy, business interests are demanding more adaptable regulatory regimes. These political dynamics are resulting in the proliferation of network style governance that can adapt and cope with changing information, attitudes, values and beliefs. As a result a new era of experimentation and trialling alternative governance regimes has been born.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | social licence, technology, advocacy, environment |
| Research Division: | Studies in Human Society |
| Research Group: | Policy and Administration |
| Research Field: | Environment Policy |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management |
| Objective Field: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management at Regional or Larger Scales |
| Author: | Cullen-Knox, C (Ms Coco Cullen-Knox) |
| Author: | Eccleston, R (Professor Richard Eccleston) |
| Author: | Haward, M (Professor Marcus Haward) |
| Author: | Lester, E (Professor Elizabeth Lester) |
| Author: | Vince, J (Dr Joanna Vince) |
| ID Code: | 113269 |
| Year Published: | 2017 (online first 2016) |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 3 |
| Deposited By: | College Office - CALE |
| Deposited On: | 2016-12-19 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-02-13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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