ABSTRACT

Dominant governance theories are drawn primarily from Euro-American sources, including emergent theories of network and collaborative governance. The authors contest this narrow view and seek a more globally inclusive and transdisciplinary perspective, arguing such an approach is more fruitful in addressing the wicked problems of sustainability—including social, economic, and environmental crises. This book thus offers and affirms an innovative governance approach that may hold more promise as a "universal" framework that is not colonizing in nature due to its grounding in relational process assumptions and practices. Using a comprehensive Governance Typology that encompasses ontological assumptions, psychosocial theory, epistemological concepts, belief systems, ethical concepts, political theory, economic theory, and administrative theory, the authors delve deeply into underlying philosophical commitments and carry them into practice through an approach they call Integrative Governance. The authors consider ways this approach to radical self-governance is already being implemented in the prefigurative politics of contemporary social movements, and they invite scholars and activists to: imagine governance in contexts of social, economic, and environmental interconnectedness; to use the ideal-type as an evaluative tool against which to measure practice; and to pursue paradigmatic change through collaborative praxis.

part I|40 pages

Situating Integrative Governance

chapter 1|13 pages

Complex global crises

chapter 2|17 pages

Governance network theories

part II|137 pages

A transdisciplinary understanding of governance

chapter 4|7 pages

The meaning of integration

chapter 5|17 pages

Ontological assumptions

Relational Becoming

chapter 6|15 pages

Psychosocial theory

Ensembling individuality

chapter 7|17 pages

Epistemological concepts

Integral Knowing

chapter 8|15 pages

Belief systems

Co-Creationism

chapter 9|13 pages

Ethical concepts

Stewardship

chapter 10|17 pages

Political theory

Radical Democracy

chapter 11|18 pages

Economic theory

Coopetition

chapter 12|16 pages

Administrative theory

Facilitative Coordination

part III|25 pages

Illustration and affirmation of Integrative Governance

chapter 13|11 pages

Finding the will to integrate

chapter 14|12 pages

Affirming Integrative Governance