Networks of action situations in social-ecological systems research

Abstract

The analysis of Networks of Action Situations (NAS) is becoming an increasingly popular and powerful tool for social-ecological systems research. Social-ecological sys-tems are frequently shaped by decisions, behaviours and practices resulting from multiple interdependent action situations (e.g., Pahl-Wostl et al. 2010; McGinnis 2011; Lubell 2013; Kimmich 2013; Villamayor-Tomas et al. 2015). Action situations are events, venues, arenas or spaces in which actions affect collective outcomes (Ostrom 2005). The action situations relevant to sustainability science are highly diverse. They include market transactions, resource extraction, public good provision, deliberative fora, imple-mentation of legislation and many more. Typically, social (e.g. social networks and institutions), economic (e.g. shared resources and transactions) and biophysical (e.g. material and energy flows) ties link action situations and the actors involved in multiple situations. Such complex networks lack systematic research. How can we account for the heterogene-ity of networks and the distinct characteristics of situations and their linkages? Which methods and models appear most promising? How can NAS contribute to middle-range theory building?