Analyzing Collaborative Governance Through Social Network Analysis: A Case Study of River Management Along the Waal River in The Netherlands

• Published in: Environmental management (New York) Vol. 57; no. 2; pp. 355 - 367
• Main Authors: Fliervoet, J. M., Geerling, G. W., Mostert, E., Smits, A. J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Case studies; Collaboration; Conservation of Natural Resources; Cooperative Behavior; Cultural heritage; Data analysis; Decision Making; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Management; Flood plain management; Flood protection; Floodplains; Floods; Forestry Management; Freshwater; Government Agencies; Natural resource management; Nature Conservation; Netherlands; Rivers; Social network analysis; Social Networking; Social networks; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Netherlands; Europe, Rhine R; Netherlands, Waal R; ANE, Netherlands; Flood protection; Social network analysis; River management; Collaboration; Floodplain management; Nature restoration
• ISSN: 0364-152X; 1432-1009
• DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0606-x

Until recently, governmental organizations played a dominant and decisive role in natural resource management. However, an increasing number of studies indicate that this dominant role is developing towards a more facilitating role as equal partner to improve efficiency and create a leaner state. This approach is characterized by complex collaborative relationships between various actors and sectors on multiple levels. To understand this complexity in the field of environmental management, we conducted a social network analysis of floodplain management in the Dutch Rhine delta. We charted the current interorganizational relationships between 43 organizations involved in flood protection (blue network) and nature management (green network) and explored the consequences of abolishing the central actor in these networks. The discontinuation of this actor will decrease the connectedness of actors within the blue and green network and may therefore have a large impact on the exchange of ideas and decision-making processes. Furthermore, our research shows the dependence of non-governmental actors on the main governmental organizations. It seems that the Dutch governmental organizations still have a dominant and controlling role in floodplain management. This challenges the alleged shift from a dominant government towards collaborative governance and calls for detailed analysis of actual governance.