Sustainability and the local scale: Squaring the peg?

International Journal of Sustainable Development

Volumn 7, Issue 1, 2004, Pages 76-97

  Parto, Saeed ^a,b,c,d  

^a UNU MERIT   (Netherlands)

^b MERIT   (Netherlands)

^c BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^d UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO   (Canada)

Author keywords

Agenda 21; Governance; Institutions; Policy implementation; Scales; Sustainability

Indexed keywords

COMPETITION; PUBLIC POLICY;

LOCAL SCALES; MACRO MATTERS;

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT;

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS; POLITICAL IDEOLOGY; SCALE EFFECT; SUSTAINABILITY;

CANADA; NORTH AMERICA; ONTARIO; WATERLOO;

EID: 2942536846     PISSN: 09601406     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2004.004980     Document Type: Review

References (61)

1. The terms sustainable development and sustainability are used interchangeably in this paper.
2. Jänicke, M. and Weidner, H. (Editors) (1997) National Environmental Policies: A Comparative Study of Capacity-Building, New York, Springer.
3. See, for example, Amin, A. and Thrift, N. (Editors) (1994) Globalization, Institutions, and Regional Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford; Cooke, P. and Morgan, K. (1998) The Associational Economy, New York, Oxford University Press; Jessop, B. (1994) 'Post-Fordism and the state', in Amin, A. (Editor) Post-Fordism: A Reader, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., pp. 251-279; Jessop, B. (1997) 'The governance of complexity and the complexity of governance: preliminary remarks on some problems and limits of economic guidance', in Amin, A. and Hausner, J. (Editors) Beyond Market and Hierarchy: Interactive Governance and Social Complexity, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 95-128; Jones, M. (1997) 'Spatial selectivity and of the state? The regulationist enigma and local struggles over economic governance', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 831-864; Jones, M. (1999) New Institutional Spaces: TECs and the Remaking of Economic Governance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
4. See, for example, Amin, A. and Thrift, N. (Editors) (1994) Globalization, Institutions, and Regional Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford; Cooke, P. and Morgan, K. (1998) The Associational Economy, New York, Oxford University Press; Jessop, B. (1994) 'Post-Fordism and the state', in Amin, A. (Editor) Post-Fordism: A Reader, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., pp. 251-279; Jessop, B. (1997) 'The governance of complexity and the complexity of governance: preliminary remarks on some problems and limits of economic guidance', in Amin, A. and Hausner, J. (Editors) Beyond Market and Hierarchy: Interactive Governance and Social Complexity, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 95-128; Jones, M. (1997) 'Spatial selectivity and of the state? The regulationist enigma and local struggles over economic governance', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 831-864; Jones, M. (1999) New Institutional Spaces: TECs and the Remaking of Economic Governance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
5. See, for example, Amin, A. and Thrift, N. (Editors) (1994) Globalization, Institutions, and Regional Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford; Cooke, P. and Morgan, K. (1998) The Associational Economy, New York, Oxford University Press; Jessop, B. (1994) 'Post-Fordism and the state', in Amin, A. (Editor) Post-Fordism: A Reader, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., pp. 251-279; Jessop, B. (1997) 'The governance of complexity and the complexity of governance: preliminary remarks on some problems and limits of economic guidance', in Amin, A. and Hausner, J. (Editors) Beyond Market and Hierarchy: Interactive Governance and Social Complexity, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 95-128; Jones, M. (1997) 'Spatial selectivity and of the state? The regulationist enigma and local struggles over economic governance', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 831-864; Jones, M. (1999) New Institutional Spaces: TECs and the Remaking of Economic Governance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
6. See, for example, Amin, A. and Thrift, N. (Editors) (1994) Globalization, Institutions, and Regional Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford; Cooke, P. and Morgan, K. (1998) The Associational Economy, New York, Oxford University Press; Jessop, B. (1994) 'Post-Fordism and the state', in Amin, A. (Editor) Post-Fordism: A Reader, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., pp. 251-279; Jessop, B. (1997) 'The governance of complexity and the complexity of governance: preliminary remarks on some problems and limits of economic guidance', in Amin, A. and Hausner, J. (Editors) Beyond Market and Hierarchy: Interactive Governance and Social Complexity, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 95-128; Jones, M. (1997) 'Spatial selectivity and of the state? The regulationist enigma and local struggles over economic governance', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 831-864; Jones, M. (1999) New Institutional Spaces: TECs and the Remaking of Economic Governance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
7. See, for example, Amin, A. and Thrift, N. (Editors) (1994) Globalization, Institutions, and Regional Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford; Cooke, P. and Morgan, K. (1998) The Associational Economy, New York, Oxford University Press; Jessop, B. (1994) 'Post-Fordism and the state', in Amin, A. (Editor) Post-Fordism: A Reader, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., pp. 251-279; Jessop, B. (1997) 'The governance of complexity and the complexity of governance: preliminary remarks on some problems and limits of economic guidance', in Amin, A. and Hausner, J. (Editors) Beyond Market and Hierarchy: Interactive Governance and Social Complexity, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 95-128; Jones, M. (1997) 'Spatial selectivity and of the state? The regulationist enigma and local struggles over economic governance', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 831-864; Jones, M. (1999) New Institutional Spaces: TECs and the Remaking of Economic Governance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
8. See, for example, Amin, A. and Thrift, N. (Editors) (1994) Globalization, Institutions, and Regional Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford; Cooke, P. and Morgan, K. (1998) The Associational Economy, New York, Oxford University Press; Jessop, B. (1994) 'Post-Fordism and the state', in Amin, A. (Editor) Post-Fordism: A Reader, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., pp. 251-279; Jessop, B. (1997) 'The governance of complexity and the complexity of governance: preliminary remarks on some problems and limits of economic guidance', in Amin, A. and Hausner, J. (Editors) Beyond Market and Hierarchy: Interactive Governance and Social Complexity, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 95-128; Jones, M. (1997) 'Spatial selectivity and of the state? The regulationist enigma and local struggles over economic governance', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 831-864; Jones, M. (1999) New Institutional Spaces: TECs and the Remaking of Economic Governance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
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11. Ibid. p. 461.
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14. Swyngedouw (1997) p. 158 and Jessop (1999) p. 354. Jessop (1999) makes clear that 'hollowing out' as described here has not, thus far, meant that the political power of the nation-state government has been reduced. Governments continue to exercise their power through quasi- or non-government forms and institutions.
15. Swyngedouw (1997) and Brenner (1998).
16. Boyd, D. (2002) 'Ecology: The puck stops here', The Globe and Mail. Toronto, A19. See also Gibson, R.B. (1999)(Editor) Voluntary Initiatives: The New Politics of Corporate Greening. Peterborough, ON, Broadview Press, for discussions on the causes for this and other failures in Canada.
17. Boyd, D. (2002) 'Ecology: The puck stops here', The Globe and Mail. Toronto, A19. See also Gibson, R.B. (1999)(Editor) Voluntary Initiatives: The New Politics of Corporate Greening. Peterborough, ON, Broadview Press, for discussions on the causes for this and other failures in Canada.
18. Osborn, A. (2003) 'EU nowhere near meeting Kyoto targets', The Guardian, available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/waste/story/0,12188,1098514,00.html, accessed February 11, 2004.
19. See, for example, Nielsen, K. and Pedersen, O.K. (1993) 'The negotiated economy: general features and theoretical perspectives', in Hausner, J., Jessop, B. and Nielsen, K. (Editors) Institutional Frameworks of Market Economies, Avebury, Aldershot, UK, pp. 89-112; Amin, A. and Thomas, D. (1996) 'The negotiated economy: state and civic institutions in Denmark', Economy and Society, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 255-281; Jessop (1997), and Jones (1999).
20. See, for example, Nielsen, K. and Pedersen, O.K. (1993) 'The negotiated economy: general features and theoretical perspectives', in Hausner, J., Jessop, B. and Nielsen, K. (Editors) Institutional Frameworks of Market Economies, Avebury, Aldershot, UK, pp. 89-112; Amin, A. and Thomas, D. (1996) 'The negotiated economy: state and civic institutions in Denmark', Economy and Society, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 255-281; Jessop (1997), and Jones (1999).
21. See, for example, Nielsen, K. and Pedersen, O.K. (1993) 'The negotiated economy: general features and theoretical perspectives', in Hausner, J., Jessop, B. and Nielsen, K. (Editors) Institutional Frameworks of Market Economies, Avebury, Aldershot, UK, pp. 89-112; Amin, A. and Thomas, D. (1996) 'The negotiated economy: state and civic institutions in Denmark', Economy and Society, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 255-281; Jessop (1997), and Jones (1999).
22. See, for example, Nielsen, K. and Pedersen, O.K. (1993) 'The negotiated economy: general features and theoretical perspectives', in Hausner, J., Jessop, B. and Nielsen, K. (Editors) Institutional Frameworks of Market Economies, Avebury, Aldershot, UK, pp. 89-112; Amin, A. and Thomas, D. (1996) 'The negotiated economy: state and civic institutions in Denmark', Economy and Society, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 255-281; Jessop (1997), and Jones (1999).
23. Swyngedouw (1997), pp. 144 and 160.
24. Amin and Thrift (1994).
25. Hodgson, G.M. (1994) 'The return of institutional economics', in Smelser, N.J. and Swedberg, R. (Editors) The Handbook of Economic Sociology, Russell Sage Foundation, Princeton, NJ, pp: 58-76.
26. After Arthur, B. (1990) 'Positive feedbacks in the economy', Scientific American, Vol. 262 (February), pp. 92-99.
27. Hodgson, G.M. (1988) Economics and Institutions: A Manifesto for a Modern Institutional Economic, Polity Press, Cambridge; Hodgson, G.M. (1993) Economics and Evolution: Bringing Life Back into Economics, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor; Hodgson, G.M. (1996) 'Land, learning, and the nature of spatiality', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 28, pp. 1940-1942; Hodgson, G.M. (1999) Evolution and Institutions, Routledge, London.
28. Hodgson, G.M. (1988) Economics and Institutions: A Manifesto for a Modern Institutional Economic, Polity Press, Cambridge; Hodgson, G.M. (1993) Economics and Evolution: Bringing Life Back into Economics, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor; Hodgson, G.M. (1996) 'Land, learning, and the nature of spatiality', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 28, pp. 1940-1942; Hodgson, G.M. (1999) Evolution and Institutions, Routledge, London.
29. Hodgson, G.M. (1988) Economics and Institutions: A Manifesto for a Modern Institutional Economic, Polity Press, Cambridge; Hodgson, G.M. (1993) Economics and Evolution: Bringing Life Back into Economics, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor; Hodgson, G.M. (1996) 'Land, learning, and the nature of spatiality', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 28, pp. 1940-1942; Hodgson, G.M. (1999) Evolution and Institutions, Routledge, London.
30. Hodgson, G.M. (1988) Economics and Institutions: A Manifesto for a Modern Institutional Economic, Polity Press, Cambridge; Hodgson, G.M. (1993) Economics and Evolution: Bringing Life Back into Economics, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor; Hodgson, G.M. (1996) 'Land, learning, and the nature of spatiality', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 28, pp. 1940-1942; Hodgson, G.M. (1999) Evolution and Institutions, Routledge, London.
31. Myrdal, G. (1957) Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions, Duckworth, London.
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33. Sandiford, F. and Rossmiller, E. (1996) 'Many a slip: studying policy delivery systems', paper presented at the Agricultural Economics Society Conference, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 27-30 March 1996.
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35. For 'permanency' as a defining feature of institutions see Neale, W.C. (1987) 'Institutions', Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 1177-1206; and Hodgson (1988). For a discussion of the multiple meanings associated with the term 'institution' see Parto, S. (2003) 'Economic activity and institutions: taking stock', forthcoming in Journal of Economic Issues.
36. For 'permanency' as a defining feature of institutions see Neale, W.C. (1987) 'Institutions', Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 1177-1206; and Hodgson (1988). For a discussion of the multiple meanings associated with the term 'institution' see Parto, S. (2003) 'Economic activity and institutions: taking stock', forthcoming in Journal of Economic Issues.
37. For 'permanency' as a defining feature of institutions see Neale, W.C. (1987) 'Institutions', Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 1177-1206; and Hodgson (1988). For a discussion of the multiple meanings associated with the term 'institution' see Parto, S. (2003) 'Economic activity and institutions: taking stock', forthcoming in Journal of Economic Issues.
38. Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1998) Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publications.
39. I b i d.
40. See, for example, Amin (1999) and Amin and Thrift (1994); Schmitz, H. (1993) 'Small shoemakers and Fordist giants: tale of a supercluster', Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, IDS Discussion Paper 331.
41. See, for example, Amin (1999) and Amin and Thrift (1994); Schmitz, H. (1993) 'Small shoemakers and Fordist giants: tale of a supercluster', Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, IDS Discussion Paper 331.
42. See, for example, Amin and Thomas (1996); Hausner, Jessop, and Nielsen (1993); Nielsen and Pedersen (1993); Jessop (1997); and Jones (1999).
43. The 'common good' may be maintaining economic prosperity, instituting a negotiated economy, or attaining sustainable development in some larger sense.
44. UniRoyal was started in Elmira, Region of Waterloo by the Canadian federal government during World War II to manufacture plastic explosive stabilizers. The plant has manufactured rubber, war chemicals, including Agent Orange, rubber chemicals and agrichemicals. A combination of rubber chemicals and agrichemicals have combined underground to form NDMA (N- nitrosodimethylamine), classed as an A2 carcinogen, a mutagen and a teratogen.
45. 'Imagine!Waterloo' is a visioning document on how the community in the Region of Waterloo will look and function in 2020.
46. In 1996, the Ontario provincial government downloaded greater responsibility onto municipalities for the provision of services. Public transit, roads and bridges, parks, recreation, income redistribution programmes, the 'workfare' programme, public health, and social housing became the responsibility of municipalities while the province assumed additional responsibility for education.
47. Hudson, R. and Weaver, P. (1997) 'In search of employment creation via environmental valorisation: exploring a possible eco-Keynesian future for Europe', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 29, pp. 1647-1661, p. 1652.
48. Hudson and Weaver (1997) p. 1653.
49. Jessop (1997) pp. 101-2.
50. The three tiers are federal, provincial, and regional municipal. The city/township municipal scale within the regional municipal scale, in effect a fourth tier, is currently being abolished through a process of amalgamation initiated by the Ontario provincial government in 1995.
51. Interviewees who wished to see a description of sustainable development were provided with 'General sustainability principles', from Gibson, R.B. (2001) 'Specification of sustainability-based environmental assessment decision criteria and implications for determining 'significance' in environmental assessment', Ottawa, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Research and Development Programme, Ottawa, p. 46.
52. Hudson and Weaver (1997); Fox, J. (1996) 'How does civil society thicken? The political construction of social capital in rural Mexico', World Development, Vol. 24, No. 6. This view is contrasted with Putnam, D. (1993) Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
53. Hudson and Weaver (1997); Fox, J. (1996) 'How does civil society thicken? The political construction of social capital in rural Mexico', World Development, Vol. 24, No. 6. This view is contrasted with Putnam, D. (1993) Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
54. Hudson and Weaver (1997); Fox, J. (1996) 'How does civil society thicken? The political construction of social capital in rural Mexico', World Development, Vol. 24, No. 6. This view is contrasted with Putnam, D. (1993) Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
55. Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1981) (Editors) Effective Policy Implementation, Lexington Books, Toronto; Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1983) Implementation and Public Policy, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, IL; Sabatier, P.A. (1986) 'Top-down and bottom-up models of policy implementation: a critical and suggested synthesis', Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 6 (January), pp. 21-48; Sabatier, P.A. (Editor) (1999) Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, Boulder CO; Sabatier P.A. and Mazmanian, D.A. (1983) Can Regulation Work? The Implementation of the 1972 California Coastal Initiative, Plenum Press, New York.
56. Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1981) (Editors) Effective Policy Implementation, Lexington Books, Toronto; Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1983) Implementation and Public Policy, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, IL; Sabatier, P.A. (1986) 'Top-down and bottom-up models of policy implementation: a critical and suggested synthesis', Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 6 (January), pp. 21-48; Sabatier, P.A. (Editor) (1999) Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, Boulder CO; Sabatier P.A. and Mazmanian, D.A. (1983) Can Regulation Work? The Implementation of the 1972 California Coastal Initiative, Plenum Press, New York.
57. Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1981) (Editors) Effective Policy Implementation, Lexington Books, Toronto; Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1983) Implementation and Public Policy, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, IL; Sabatier, P.A. (1986) 'Top-down and bottom-up models of policy implementation: a critical and suggested synthesis', Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 6 (January), pp. 21-48; Sabatier, P.A. (Editor) (1999) Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, Boulder CO; Sabatier P.A. and Mazmanian, D.A. (1983) Can Regulation Work? The Implementation of the 1972 California Coastal Initiative, Plenum Press, New York.
58. Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1981) (Editors) Effective Policy Implementation, Lexington Books, Toronto; Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1983) Implementation and Public Policy, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, IL; Sabatier, P.A. (1986) 'Top-down and bottom-up models of policy implementation: a critical and suggested synthesis', Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 6 (January), pp. 21-48; Sabatier, P.A. (Editor) (1999) Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, Boulder CO; Sabatier P.A. and Mazmanian, D.A. (1983) Can Regulation Work? The Implementation of the 1972 California Coastal Initiative, Plenum Press, New York.
59. Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1981) (Editors) Effective Policy Implementation, Lexington Books, Toronto; Mazmanian, D.A. and Sabatier, P.A. (1983) Implementation and Public Policy, Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, IL; Sabatier, P.A. (1986) 'Top-down and bottom-up models of policy implementation: a critical and suggested synthesis', Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 6 (January), pp. 21-48; Sabatier, P.A. (Editor) (1999) Theories of the Policy Process, Westview Press, Boulder CO; Sabatier P.A. and Mazmanian, D.A. (1983) Can Regulation Work? The Implementation of the 1972 California Coastal Initiative, Plenum Press, New York.
60. Rotmans, Kemp, and van Asselt (2001).
61. 'Environment' is not synonymous with sustainability.