Abstract
Authority, information, and resources are critical for fostering interactions among overlapping decision centers in polycentric systems, yet little is known about how they might enable decision centers across multiple governance levels to coordinate resource management. Based on the theoretical underpinnings of polycentric governance and the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework, this paper examines the conditions under which authority, information, and resources might foster and/or hinder interactions among overlapping decision centers at the constitutional, collective, and operational-choice levels in Tanzania’s polycentric fisheries in Lake Victoria. Through qualitative research, findings indicate that although constitutional-choice rules might create overlaps among decision centers to generate an interdependence between issues, activities, and jurisdictions, it may not necessarily translate to cooperation at the collective and operational-choice levels. Despite overlaps, opposing agendas; lack of clarity over authority; perception of a threat to authority; distrust; and intentionally withholding information and resources can not only create conflicts among decision centers at the collective and operational-choice levels but can also contribute to dysfunctionality in a polycentric system. These findings advance knowledge on the conditions that foster and/or hinder interactions among overlapping decision centers for coordinating resource management and provide practical insight for improving the performance of polycentric systems.
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Notes
Following Stephan et al. (2019), “decision center” refers to formal organizations or informal groupings with established or informal procedures which designate actors (in defined roles or positions) authorized to make decisions. Decision centers are also referred to as “governance actors” (Morrison et al. 2023).
While Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania share Lake Victoria, this study only focuses on Tanzania’s portion of the lake. Uganda and Tanzania adopted top-down enforcement measures. In Uganda, the military enforces regulation. Enforcement in Kenya is not as strict as Uganda or Tanzania (Mudliar 2020).
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Acknowledgements
The author thanks the two anonymous reviewers for their feedback that contributed toward bringing the manuscript to its current shape and form. The author thanks Mwanahamisi Salehe from the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute for field support and interviewees for their time.
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This research was funded by National Science Foundation Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems grant number 1518532.
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Communicated by Chinwe Ifejika Speranza
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Mudaliar, P. What matters for coordination? Examining overlaps and interactions in Lake Victoria’s polycentric fisheries in Tanzania. Reg Environ Change 23, 136 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-023-02135-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-023-02135-x