Structural Power Dynamics in Polycentric Water Governance Networks

Water security is severely threatened by climate change. Building resilient catchments is key to reduce water insecurity, yet power dynamics that generate ineffective governance responses can hinder such resilience building. This research uses an Australian water governance process to study the power dynamics that underpin polycentric governance networks. Combining network theory and Lukes’ structural power concept is a novel methodology tested for its suitability to investigate structural power. We conducted a Social Network Analysis to identify dominant and marginalized stakeholders and validated the results with interview data. Our findings suggest that combining network theory and Lukes’ structural power concept is a useful methodology to identify power dynamics that manifest in polycentric governance structures. This research adds to the methodological foundations of power-related social network research and exemplifies how structural power dynamics, like control over information use, influence the effectiveness of polycentric governance processes and impact desired outcomes like catchment resilience.水安全正受到气候变化的严重威胁。构建韧性集水区是降低水安全风险的核心路径，然而引发治理应对失效的权力动态格局，会阻碍此类韧性建设工作。本研究以澳大利亚的水治理流程为案例，探究支撑多中心治理网络的权力动态关系。将网络理论与卢克斯（Lukes）的结构权力概念相结合，是一种用于探究结构权力的新型研究方法，本研究对该方法的适用性进行了检验。本研究通过社会网络分析（Social Network Analysis）识别了占据主导地位与处于边缘地位的利益相关者，并借助访谈数据对分析结果进行了验证。研究结果表明，将网络理论与卢克斯的结构权力概念相结合，是一种可有效识别多中心治理结构中权力动态关系的研究方法。本研究丰富了权力相关社会网络研究的方法论基础，并通过实例阐释了诸如信息使用控制权一类的结构权力动态，如何影响多中心治理流程的有效性，以及如何作用于集水区韧性等预期目标的实现。