Managing Water, Soil and Waste Resources to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals pp 93-124 | Cite as
Games for Aiding Stakeholder Deliberation on Nexus Policy Issues
Abstract
Games can provide an effective and replicable space in which stakeholders learn skills necessary for deliberative and pluralist policymaking. These skills are especially important for “nexus” policy issues that are typically characterised by multiple, competing problem frames involving overlapping networks of stakeholders. In this position paper, we describe three serious games that serve as a space for players (stakeholders) and researchers to jointly explore alternative solutions to complex resource management issues: the Water-Food-Energy Nexus Game (Nexus Game); the Narubu Game of Many Voices (Narubu Game); and the Forest Governance Game (Forest Game). The games contain instructive and reflexive mechanisms that prompt players to self-discover common challenges associated with complex nexus issues, including conflicting institutional mandates, social dilemmas, contending worldviews, and plural interpretations of science.
References
- Alcamo J (2015) Systems thinking for advancing a nexus approach to water, soil and waste. http://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:3154/LectureSeries_No2.pdf. Accessed 3 Mar 2017
- Aldred J, Jacobs M (2000) Citizens and wetlands: evaluating the Ely citizens’ jury. Ecol Econ 34(2):217–232CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Allen CR, Gunderson LH (2011) Pathology and failure in the design and implementation of adaptive management. J Environ Manage 92(5):1379–1384CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Averch HA, Lavin M (1964) Simulation of decision-making in crises. http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/RM4202.html. Accessed 3 Mar 2017
- Bachofen C, Suarez P, Steenbergen M, Grist N (2012) Can games help people manage the climate risks they face? The participatory design of educational games. Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre Working Paper Series 3Google Scholar
- Barreteau O, Antona M, D’Aquino P, Aubert S, Boissau S, Bousquet F, Daré WS et al (2003) Our companion modelling approach. J Artif Soc Soc Simul 6:1Google Scholar
- Bednarik P, Dieckmann U, Linnerooth-Bayer J, Magnuszewski P (forthcoming) A game of common-pool resource management: the effects of communication, shared benefits and worldviewsGoogle Scholar
- Boas I, Biermann F, Kanie N (2016) Cross-sectoral strategies in global sustainability governance: towards a nexus approach. Int Environ Agreements: Polit Law Econ 16(3):449–464CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Bogost I (2008) The rhetoric of video games. In: The ecology of games: connecting youth, games, and learning. MIT Press, Cambrigde, pp 117–140Google Scholar
- Bousquet F (2005) Companion modeling and multi-agent systems for integrated natural resource management in Asia. Int. Rice Res. Inst.Google Scholar
- Centre for Systems Solutions (2016) ACCURENT—Accelerating Urban Energy Transitions. https://crs.org.pl/en/projects/accurent/. Accessed 13 Mar 2017
- Centre for Systems Solutions/IIASA (2016) Flood resilience game. http://floodresilience.games4sustainability.org/. Accessed 13 Mar 2017
- Conway D, van Garderen EA, Deryng D, Dorling S, Krueger T, Landman W, Lankford B et al (2015) Climate and southern Africa’s water-energy-food nexus. Nat Clim Change 5(9):837–846CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Cundill G, Rodela R (2012) A review of assertions about the processes and outcomes of social learning in natural resource management. J Environ Manage 113:7–14CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- de Suarez JM, Suarez P, Bachofen C, Fortugno N, Goentzel J, Gonçalves P, Grist N et al (2012) Games for a new climate: experiencing the complexity of future risks. Pardee Center Task Force ReportGoogle Scholar
- Dietz T (2013) Bringing values and deliberation to science communication. Proc Natl Acad Sci 110(Suppl 3):14081–14087CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Douglas M (1978) Cultural bias. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Occasional Paper, 35Google Scholar
- Douglas M, Wildavsky A (1983) Risk and culture: an essay on the selection of technological and environmental dangers. University of California PressGoogle Scholar
- Dryzek JS (2001) Legitimacy and economy in deliberative democracy. Polit Theory 29(5):651–669CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Duke RD (2011) Origin and evolution of policy simulation: a personal journey. Simul Gaming 42(3):342–358CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Elster J (1998) Deliberative democracy, vol 1. Cambridge University PressGoogle Scholar
- Entholzner A, Reeve C (eds) (2016) Building climate resilience through virtual water and nexus thinking in the southern African development community. SpringerGoogle Scholar
- Fischhoff B (2013) The sciences of science communication. Proc Natl Acad Sci 110(Suppl 3):14033–14039CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Foran T, Ward J, Kemp-Benedict E, Smajgl A (2013) Developing detailed foresight narratives: a participatory technique from the Mekong region. Ecol Soc 18(4)Google Scholar
- Garmendia E, Stagl S (2010) Public participation for sustainability and social learning: concepts and lessons from three case studies in Europe. Ecol Econ 69(8):1712–1722CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Geels FW, Berkhout F, van Vuuren DP (2016) Bridging analytical approaches for low-carbon transitions. Nat Clim Change 6(6):576–583CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Geurts JLA, Duke RD, Vermeulen PAM (2007) Policy gaming for strategy and change. Long Range Plan 40(6):535–558CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Harteveld C, Guimarães R, Mayer IS, Bidarra R (2009) Balancing play, meaning and reality: the design philosophy of LEVEE PATROLLER. Simul Gaming 41(3):316–340CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Hassenforder E, Smajgl A, Ward J (2015) Towards understanding participatory processes: framework, application and results. J Environ Manage 157:84–95CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Holling CS (2000) Theories for sustainable futures. Conserv Ecol 4(2)Google Scholar
- Jackson S, Tan P-L, Nolan S (2012) Tools to enhance public participation and confidence in the development of the Howard East aquifer water plan, Northern Territory. J Hydrol 474:22–28CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Joint Research Center (2016) EU-AU-IIASA evidence and policy: water–energy–food nexus. https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/jrcsh/files/20160830-eu-au-iiasa-evidence-policy-event-masterclasses-booklet.pdf. Accessed 3 Mar 2017
- Jones L, Grist N, Ludi E, Carabine E (2014) Planning for an uncertain future: promoting adaptation to climate change through flexible and forward-looking decision making. https://www.odi.org/publications/8255-adaptation-climate-change-planning-decision-making. Accessed 13 Mar 2017
- Juhola S, Driscoll P, de Suarez JM, Suarez P (2013) Social strategy games in communicating trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation in cities. Urban Clim 4:102–116CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kallis G, Hatzilacou D, Mexa A, Coccossis H, Svoronou E (2009) Beyond the manual: practicing deliberative visioning in a Greek island. Ecol Econ 68(4):979–989CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kapp KM (2012) The gamification of learning and instruction: game-based methods and strategies for training an education. WileyGoogle Scholar
- Koster RA (2012) Theory of fund for game design. O’ReillyGoogle Scholar
- Kristjanson P, Harvey B, Van Epp M, Thornton PK (2014) Social learning and sustainable development. Nat Clim Change 4(1):5–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Krolikowska K, Kronenberg J, Maliszewska K, Sendzimir J, Magnuszewski P, Dunajski A, Slodka A (2007) Role-playing simulation as a communication tool in community dialogue: Karkonosze Mountains case study. Simul Gaming 38(2):195–210CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kurian M, Ardakanian R (2015) Governing the nexus. Springer International PublishingGoogle Scholar
- Le Blanc D (2015) Towards integration at last? The sustainable development goals as a network of targets. Sustain Dev 23(3):176–187CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Leck H, Conway D, Bradshaw M, Rees J (2015) Tracing the water–energy–food nexus: description, theory and practice. Geogr Compass 9(8):445–460CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Levitt SD, List JA (2007) What do laboratory experiments measuring social preferences reveal about the real world? J Econ Perspect 21(2):153–174CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Linnerooth-Bayer J, Vari A, Thompson M (2006) Floods and fairness in Hungary. In: Verweij M, Thompson M (eds) Clumsy solutions for a complex world: governance, politics and plural perceptions. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstok, pp 181–204CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Linnerooth-Bayer JA, Scolobig A, Ferlisi S, Cascini L, Thompson M (2016) Expert engagement in participatory processes: translating stakeholder discourses into policy options. Nat Hazards 81(1):69–88CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Lubans J Jr (2009) Leading from the middle: what? So what? Now what? Libr Leadersh Manage 23(3):140–142Google Scholar
- Mayer IS (2009) The gaming of policy and the politics of gaming: a review. Simul Gaming 40(6):825–862CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- McGonigal J (2011) Reality is broken: why games make us better and how they can change the world. PenguinGoogle Scholar
- Meadows D (2002) Dancing with systems. Syst Thinker 13:2–6Google Scholar
- Newell B, Wasson R (2002) Social system vs solar system: why policy makers need history. Confl Cooperation Relat Int Water Resour Hist Perspect 62:3ffGoogle Scholar
- Ostrom E (2007) A diagnostic approach for going beyond panaceas. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104(39):15181–15187CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Ostrom E (2009) A general framework for analyzing sustainability of social-ecological systems. Science 325(5939):419–422CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Parson EA (1996a) How should we study global environmental problems? A plea for unconventional methods of assessment and synthesisGoogle Scholar
- Parson EA (1996b) What can you learn from a game. In: Wise choices: games, decisions, and negotiations. Harvard Business School Press, BostonGoogle Scholar
- Plate R (2010) Assessing individuals’ understanding of nonlinear causal structures in complex systems. Syst Dyn Rev 26(1):19–33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Rasul G, Sharma B (2016) The nexus approach to water–energy–food security: an option for adaptation to climate change. Clim Policy 16(6):682–702CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Rayner S (2006) Wicked problems: clumsy solutions. Jack Beale Memorial Lecture. University of New South Wales, 25 July 2006Google Scholar
- Renn O (2008) Risk governance: coping with uncertainty in a complex world. EarthscanGoogle Scholar
- Ringler C, Bhaduri A, Lawford R (2013) The nexus across water, energy, land and food (WELF): potential for improved resource use efficiency? Curr Opin Environ Sustain 5(6):617–624CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Rittel HWJ, Webber MM (1973) Dilemmas in a general theory of planning. Policy Sci 4(2):155–169Google Scholar
- Rowe G, Marsh R, Frewer LJ (2004) Evaluation of a deliberative conference. Sci Technol Human Values 29(1):88–121CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Rumore D, Schenk T, Susskind L (2016) Role-play simulations for climate change adaptation education and engagement. Nat Clim Change 6(8):745–750CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Ryan T (2000) The role of simulation gaming in policy-making. Syst Res Behav Sci 17(4):359CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Salen K, Zimmerman E (2004) Rules of play: game design fundamentals. MIT pressGoogle Scholar
- Salgado PP, Quintana SC, Pereira AG, del Moral Ituarte L, Mateos BP (2009) Participative multi-criteria analysis for the evaluation of water governance alternatives. A case in the Costa del Sol (Malaga). Ecol Econ 68(4):990–1005Google Scholar
- Scolobig A, Lilliestam J (2016) Comparing approaches for the integration of stakeholder perspectives in environmental decision making. Resources 5(4):37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Scolobig A, Thompson M, Linnerooth-Bayer J (2016) Compromise not consensus: designing a participatory process for landslide risk mitigation. Nat Hazards 81(1):45–68CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Singleton BE (2016) Clumsiness and elegance in environmental management: applying cultural theory to the history of whaling. Environ Polit 25(3):414–433CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Smajgl A (2018) Participatory processes and integrated modelling supporting nexus implementations. In: Hülsmann S, Ardakanian R (eds) Managing water, soil and waste resources to achieve sustainable development goals: monitoring and implementation of integrated resources managementGoogle Scholar
- Smajgl A, Ward J (2015) Evaluating participatory research: framework, methods and implementation results. J Environ Manage 157:311–319CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Smajgl A, Ward JR, Foran T, Dore J, Larson S (2015) Visions, beliefs, and transformation: exploring cross-sector and transboundary dynamics in the wider Mekong region. Ecol Soc 20(2):15CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Stefanska J, Magnuszewski P, Sendzimir J, Romaniuk P, Taillieu T, Dubel A, Flachner Z, Balogh P (2011) A gaming exercise to explore problem-solving versus relational activities for river floodplain management. Environ Policy Governance 21(6):454–471CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Steiner, J (2012) The foundations of deliberative democracy: empirical research and normative implications. Cambridge University PressGoogle Scholar
- Sterman JD (2006) Learning from evidence in a complex world. Am J Public Health 96(3):505–514CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) (2014) Cross-sectoral integration in the Sustainable Development Goals: a nexus approach. https://www.sei-international.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/SEI-DB-2014-Nexus-SDGs-integration.pdf
- Thompson M (2008) Organising and disorganising. A dynamic and non-linear theory of institutional emergence and its implication. Triarchy PressGoogle Scholar
- Thompson M (2013) 36 Clumsy solutions to environmental change. In: A changing environment for human security: transformative approaches to research, policy and action, p 424Google Scholar
- Thompson M, Ellis R, Wildavsky A (1990) Cultural theory. Westview PressGoogle Scholar
- Umejesi I, Thompson M (2015) Fighting elephants, suffering grass: oil exploitation in Nigeria. J Organ Change Manage 28(5):791–811CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- United Nations (2015) The millennium development goals report 2015. http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20rev%20(July%201).pdf. Accessed 3 Mar 2017
- United Nations (2016) The sustainable development goals report. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2016/The%20Sustainable%20Development%20Goals%20Report%202016.pdf. Accessed 3 Mar 2017
- United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992) The Rio declaration on environment and development. Available at: www.unesco.org/education/nfsunesco/pdf/RIO_E.PDF. Accessed 6 Mar 2017
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2016) Using Minecraft for community participation manual. http://unhabitat.org/books/manual-using-minecraft-for-community-participation/. Accessed 13 Mar 2017
- Van der Heijden, K (1996) Scenarios: the art of strategic conversation. WileyGoogle Scholar
- Verweij M, Thompson M (eds) (2011) Clumsy solutions for a complex world: governance, politics and plural perceptions, 2 edn. SpringerGoogle Scholar
- Visman E (2014) Knowledge is power. Unlocking the potential of science and technology to enhance community resilience through knowledge exchange. The Humanitarian Practice Network at the Overseas Development Institute, London. Available at: http://odihpn.org/resources/knowledge-is-power-unlocking-the-potential-for-science-and-technology-to-enhance-community-resilience-through-knowledge-exchange/. Accessed 17 Mar 2017
- Webler T, Kastenholz H, Renn O (1995) Public participation in impact assessment: a social learning perspective. Environ Impact Assess Rev 15(5):443–463CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Webler T, Tuler S, Krueger ROB (2001) What is a good public participation process? Five perspectives from the public. Environ Manage 27(3):435–450Google Scholar
- Williamson OE (1975) Markets and hierarchies. New York, pp 26–30Google Scholar
- Yazdanpanah M, Thompson M, Hayati D, Zamani GH (2013) A new enemy at the gate: tackling Iran’s water super-crisis by way of a transition from government to governance. Prog Dev Stud 13(3):177–194CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Yazdanpanah M, Hayati D, Thompson M, Zamani GH, Monfared N (2014) Policy and plural responsiveness: taking constructive account of the ways in which Iranian farmers think about and behave in relation to water. J Hydrol 514:347–357CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Yillia PT (2016) Water-Energy-Food nexus: framing the opportunities, challenges and synergies for implementing the SDGs. Österr Wasser Abfallwirtsch 68(3–4):86–98CrossRefGoogle Scholar