Learning spaces in multi-stakeholder initiatives: The German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles as a platform for dialogue and learning?

0545058 - ÚVGZ 2022 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Beyers, F. - Leventon, Julia
Learning spaces in multi-stakeholder initiatives: The German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles as a platform for dialogue and learning?
Earth System Governance. Roč. 9, č. 9 (2021), č. článku 100113. E-ISSN 2589-8116
Institutional support: RVO:86652079
Keywords : collaborative governance * multi-stakeholder governance * social network analysis * deliberative democracy * corporate social responsibility * sustainability transformations
OECD category: Public administration
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589811621000173

Learning in collaborative governance is often recognized as an important component for sustainability transformation,
but is mainly seen as a side-effect alongside governance outcomes. However, bringing together heterogeneous
perspectives is crucial to fully capture the wicked sustainability challenges. We know very little
about how learning is facilitated in collaborative governance. This empirical article assesses a multi-stakeholder
initiative (MSI) and examines the extent to which it provides spaces for learning. It proposes an analytical
framework for investigating social learning spaces along three prerequisites: diversity of member organizations,
structure and quality of interactions. A qualitative and quantitative social network analysis (SNA) indicates that
the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textiles Partnership) has a large number of heterogeneous members,
which holds great potential for learning. However, due to deliberative-democratic structures and the prioritisation
of governance outcomes it closes down spaces for learning for the wide diversity of members. The article
argues for the design of spaces for learning by emphasising that diversity of perceptions is crucial for a better
understanding of the wicked sustainability challenges.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0321839