Bridging the legitimacy gap—translating theory into practical signposts for legitimate flood risk governance

Bridging the legitimacy gap—translating theory into practical signposts for legitimate flood risk governance

Alexander, Meghan (University of Leeds)
Doorn, N. (TU Delft Ethics & Philosophy of Technology)
Priest, Sally (Middlesex University)

2017

Legitimacy is widely regarded as a founding principle of ‘good’ and effective governance, yet despite intense academic debate and policy discourse, the concept remains conceptually confusing and poorly articulated in practice. To bridge this gap, this research performed an interpretive thematic analysis of academic scholarship across public administration, public policy, law, political science, and geography. Four core themes were identified in relation to representative deliberation, procedural and distributive equity and justice, and socio-political acceptability, with numerous sub-themes therein. In an attempt to clarify conceptual confusion, this paper grounds these theoretical debates in the context of flood risk governance where numerous legitimacy dilemmas exist. A number of questions are presented as conceptual ‘signposts’ to encourage reflexive governance in the future. Thus, more broadly, we assert the importance of bringing legitimacy to the forefront of contemporary flood risk governance discourse and practice, moving beyond the realm of academic reflection.

Equity
Flood risk governance
Justice
Legitimacy
Participation
Representative deliberation

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:30025912-93fc-4828-87a2-2cb927daad9e

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1195-4

1436-3798

Regional Environmental Change: natural and social aspects, 1-12

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2017 Meghan Alexander, N. Doorn, Sally Priest