Dynamics of experimental governance

Our new article Dynamics of experimental governance: A meta-study of functions and uses of climate governance experiments is now published online.

The article presents results from a meta-study of 25 articles on experimental climate governance.  By conducting a meta-study, we aimed at conceptualising experiments on the basis of their potential functions and uses and illustrating the dynamics and transformative potential of experimental governance.

The results of the meta-study indicate that the key functions of experimentation can be divided into four categories: testing, creating profound influence, multiplying influence, and promoting systemic changes. In addition, there are both vertical and horizontal dynamics within and between the functions of experimentation. The outcomes of this study offer tools for organising the field of experimental governance and enhancing understanding of how the diverse experimental approaches being deployed might fit together in a strategy for societal transformation.

The triangle model of experimental governance graphically illustrates the individual functions of experiments and some of the key dynamics of experimental governance.

The triagle model of experimental governance

The model complements the transition literature approaches, such as those of transition management and the multi-level perspective (MLP), which depict the growing influence of experiments and point out the need to exploit cracks in the system for regime shifts to occur. What the mechanisms of transition management are unable to capture is the versatility experiments and their horizontal dynamics. The triangle model gives equal weight to vertical and horizontal processes, acknowledging the strong top-down driver and cross-cutting themes behind many experimental settings. The model thus provides a useful tool towards a more differentiated view on complex experimentation processes and niche alignment. Broadening or scaling up should neither be the self-evident aim of experimentation, and not all innovations even wish to grow and diffuse . Considering the multiple possible transition pathways, there is value also in experiments serving as a testing ground for exploring alternative technologies and services and how they work (or not) within a certain context.

The model highlights that meeting the special criteria of each of the functions may fruitfully draw from several traditions and work methods. As the model thereby serves as an attempt to bridge the gaps between various scientific traditions informing the field of sustainability experiments, we hope that it can operate as a useful tool for climate governance scholars of various fields, seeking to understand the experimental turn in governance and governance cultures. We also believe that our findings can be used outside academia to organize and clarify some key parts of the scattered field of experimental governance and sustainability experiments.

Laakso, S., Berg, A. & Annala, M. 2017. Dynamics of experimental governance: A meta-study of functions and uses of climate governance experiments. Journal of Cleaner Production, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.140.