Understanding how governance emerges in social-ecological systems: Insights from archetype analysis

This research explores the emergence of governance within social-ecological systems (SESs). It emphasizes that governance arises from the internal dynamics and interdependencies of these systems, rather than being solely an external intervention. By analyzing 60 case studies of irrigation systems in Asia, the study identifies four archetypes of governance: egalitarian, individualist, hierarchical, and fatalist. These archetypes are based on the interplay of social-ecological and infrastructural attributes within the systems. The research provides insights into how specific configurations of attributes lead to different governance outcomes. It also highlights how various social and environmental changes can disrupt the fine-tuning of these attributes. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to complexity theory by applying concepts of emergence to SESs, offering practical guidance for achieving sustainability.