Decoding the Wickedness of Resource Nexus Problems—Examples from Water-Soil Nexus Problems in China

Sabrina Kirschke, Lulu Zhang and Kristin Meyer
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Sabrina Kirschke: United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), 01067 Dresden, Germany
Lulu Zhang: United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), 01067 Dresden, Germany
Kristin Meyer: United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), 01067 Dresden, Germany

Resources, 2018, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Managing environmental resources in a nexus manner is typically denoted as a highly wicked problem. Such denotations are, however, barely based on clearly defined dimensions and degrees of wickedness. This hinders the application of effective policy and governance strategies to address nexus problems in practice. This study provides a conceptually thorough analysis of the wickedness of resource nexus problems, taking specific water-soil nexus problems in the Loess plateau in China as an example. Analyses are based on a clear operationalization of wicked problems, as provided in the literature on public policies, the nexus, and the case study area. Results show that resource nexus problems generally fulfill the theoretical criteria of wicked problems, namely the existence of highly conflicting goals, high system complexity, and high informational uncertainty. Consequently, traditional policy and governance strategies to address wicked problems such as participatory modes of governance may be fruitful in order to deal with resource nexus problems in general and in the Loess plateau, more particularly.

Keywords: conflicts; complexity; uncertainty; soil and water management; wicked problems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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