Abstract

In this article, we investigate whether increased participation offers a way of addressing wicked policy problems. We utilize a natural policy experiment in the form of a 2010 reform of Swedish wildlife management policy aiming to solve longstanding conflicts over predators through increased stakeholder participation in regional Wildlife Management Boards. Using a panel study design containing quantitative and qualitative data, we estimate pre- and post-reform levels of three wickedness-reducing mechanisms: legitimacy, deliberation, and conflict intensity. Despite a substantial increase in participation, we find no evidence of reduced wickedness after the reform.

Keywords

wicked problems; participation; natural resource management

Published in

Administration and Society
2018, Volume: 50, number: 8, pages: 1072-1096

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Wildlife Management
Public Administration Studies


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399715595668

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84427