Pushing the boundaries of conventional forest policy research: Analyzing institutional change at multiple levels

Published Date
September 2011, Vol.13(7):582–589, doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2011.06.012

Author 

Alain Fréchette ^a,,

Nathalie Lewis ^b

• aInstitut des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P.8888, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal (Québec), Canada H3C 3P8
• bDépartement Sociétés, territoires et développement, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski (Québec), Canada G5L 3A1

Received 6 December 2010. Revised 13 June 2011. Accepted 16 June 2011. Available online 13 July 2011.

Abstract

Neo-institutional contributions to the study of human–environment interactions have made tremendous headway within the last several decades. Although the different strands of institutionalism offer distinct ontological pathways for understanding the dynamics of change in social–ecological systems, none can independently account for the inherent complexity of such transformations. Using the struggle to achieve sustainable forest resource governance within the Canadian context as a backdrop for further investigation, this paper provides a succinct overview of the strengths and limitations of neo-institutional theories applicable to the study of change in public property regimes. We argue that in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of change, analysts require a meta-theoretical approach that not only provides complementary insights into how rules change over time, but also pushes the boundaries of conventional analysis to consider the constitutional arrangements that structure collective action and the subsequent performance of forest governance structures.

Highlights

►Our capacity to explicate change in forest governance institutions is limited. ►The nested hierarchy of rules in centralized regimes can undermine change. ►Neo-institutional accounts of institutional change offer useful but partial insights. ►A meta-theoretical approach is needed to assess social–ecological interactions. ►Constitutional choices ultimately frame the long term performance of such systems.

Keywords

Institutional change and analysis

Collective action

Sustainable forest governance

Public property

We wish to acknowledge the helpful comments of Nicolas Milot on an earlier draft, as well as the suggestions and constructive criticisms of two anonymous reviewers.

Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 514 804 7359; fax: + 1 514 987 4718.

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