Explaining and Measuring Social-Ecological Pathways: The Case of Global Changes and Water Security

Thomas Bolognesi, Andrea K. Gerlak and Gregory Giuliani
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Andrea K. Gerlak: Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Gregory Giuliani: Institute for Environmental Sciences, EnviroSPACE Lab., University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: The Social-Ecological Systems framework serves as a valuable framework to explore and understand social and ecological interactions, and pathways in water governance. However, it lacks a robust understanding of change. We argue an analytical and methodological approach to engaging global changes in SES is critical to strengthening the scope and relevance of the SES framework. Relying on SES and resilience thinking, we propose an institutional and cognitive model of change where institutions and natural resources systems co-evolve. Our model of change provides a dynamic understanding of SES that stands on three causal mechanisms: institutional complexity trap, rigidity trap, and learning processes. We illustrate how data cube technology could overcome current limitations and offer reliable avenues for testing hypotheses about the dynamics of Social-Ecological Systems and water security by offering to combine spatial and time data with no major technical requirements for users.

Keywords: social-ecological system; water security; governance; institution; learning; data-cube (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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