Multi-level and Cross-Scale Governance

Abstract

Governing water implies governance of a complex social-ecological system at and across different scales in space and time. The spatial scale selected for governance has implications for both the biophysical boundaries that are taken into consider- ation and the administrative level of the actors involved in a governance system. This chapter summarizes the development of research and policy discourses on the ideal level at which to focus water governance. Systems analysis has been used to determine an appropriate scale for dealing with a governance problem. The scale could also be the subject of political discourse since actors may have different reasons for up- or down-scaling a particular water-related issue. On the basis of current scientific understanding, multi-level and cross-scale water governance is promoted. Water issues can rarely be dealt with at one scale only. I therefore argue in favour of polycentric governance combining decentralization with effective coordination of decision centres as the normative governance model. Finally the chapter elaborates on insights from and methods for structured analyses of modes of cross-scale coordination