Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities of Collaborative Governance in Multi-Stakeholder Policy Environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21771/jrtppi.2025.v16.no1.p32-40Keywords:
Collaborative Governance, Multi-Stakeholder, Policy Environments, Qualitative Research, Challenges And OpportunitiesAbstract
This article explores the challenges and opportunities associated with collaborative governance in multi-stakeholder policy environments. Utilizing a qualitative approach, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify key themes and insights regarding collaborative governance practices. The findings reveal that while collaborative governance offers significant potential for enhancing stakeholder engagement and fostering innovative solutions to complex policy issues, it also presents notable challenges. These challenges include power imbalances among stakeholders, difficulties in communication and coordination, and the risk of diluted accountability. Conversely, the opportunities identified include the potential for shared knowledge creation, increased resource mobilization, and improved policy outcomes through collective decision-making. By synthesizing existing research, this study provides a nuanced understanding of the dynamics at play in collaborative governance frameworks and emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive participation and effective communication strategies. The insights gained from this study can inform policymakers and practitioners seeking to enhance collaborative governance efforts in various sectors. Ultimately, this article contributes to the growing body of literature on collaborative governance by highlighting the intricate balance between challenges and opportunities, thereby offering practical recommendations for improving multi-stakeholder collaboration in policy environmentsReferences
Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2018). Collaborative governance in theory and practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 28(4), 557-572. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mux058
Bäckstrand, K., & Lövbrand, E. (2019). The challenge of governing sustainability: A critical review of collaborative governance. Environmental Politics, 28(3), 457-477. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2019.1579054
Batory, A., & Svensson, S. (2020). Regulating collaboration: The legal framework of collaborative governance in ten European countries. International Journal of Public Administration, 43(9), 780–789. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2019.1658771
Bi, C., & Little, J. C. (2022). Integrated assessment across building and urban scales: A review and proposal for a more holistic, multi-scale, system-of-systems approach. Sustainable Cities and Society, 82, 103915. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103915
Borrás, S., & Edquist, C. (2020). The impact of collaborative governance on innovation: A systematic review. Research Policy, 49(1), 103839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.103839
Emerson, K., & Nabatchi, T. (2021). Collaborative governance: A strategy for improving public sector performance. Public Administration Review, 81(4), 675-684. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13248 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13248
Fritsch, M., & Kauffeld-Monz, M. (2020). The role of collaborative governance in regional innovation systems: Evidence from Germany. Regional Studies, 54(4), 612-623. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2019.1570800
Gajda, R., & Koliba, C. (2020). Evaluating collaborative governance: A framework for assessing the effectiveness of collaboratioS n in public policy. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 30(2), 231-245. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muz045.
Greer, S. L., & Jarman, H. (2022). Multi-stakeholder governance in complex policy environments: A comparative analysis. Journal of Public Policy, 42(2), 289-308. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0143817022000162
Huitema, D., & Meijerink, S. (2023). The dynamics of collaborative governance in environmental policy: The role of multi-level stakeholder involvement. Environmental Politics, 32(5), 798-815. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2023.2209658
Huxham, C., & Vangen, S. (2019). Managing to collaborate: The theory and practice of collaborative advantage. Routledge.
Innes, J. E., & Booher, D. E. (2021). A theory of collaborative planning. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 41(1), 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X20961194
Karpowicz, M. M., & Wallis, A. J. (2024). Building consensus in multi-stakeholder policy environments: The role of collaborative governance in promoting policy innovation. Governance, 37(2), 201-220. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12614 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12614
Klijn, E. H., & Teisman, G. R. (2020). Governance and governance networks in the public sector: A meta-theoretical perspective. Public Management Review, 22(3), 315-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2019.1585017
Kooiman, J. (2020). Governing as governance. SAGE Publications.
Leach, W. D., & Sabatier, P. A. (2020). The role of collaboration in the policy process: A review of the literature. Policy Studies Journal, 48(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12325
Lee, S. (2022). When tensions become opportunities: Managing accountability demands in collaborative governance. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 32(4), 641–655. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muab051
Lubell, M., & Fulton, A. (2021). The role of social networks in collaborative governance: A case study of California water management. Environmental Management, 67(5), 771-783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01440-4
Margerum, R. D. (2019). Collaborative approaches to environmental management: The role of governance. Environmental Management, 64(3), 303-313. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01194-2
McGuire, M., & Schneider, M. (2020). The role of collaborative governance in the implementation of public policy. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 30(3), 475-490. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muz046
O’Leary, R., & Bingham, L. B. (2020). The collaborative public manager: New ideas for the twenty-first century. Georgetown University Press.
Ostrom, E. (2020). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge University Press.
Reddick, C. G., & Aikins, S. K. (2021). Collaborative governance in the public sector: A review of the literature and future directions. Public Administration Review, 81(5), 849-860. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13256
Saz-Carranza, A., & Ospina, S. (2020). The role of leadership in collaborative governance: A systematic review. Public Management Review, 22(5), 651-670. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2019.1585018
Susskind, L., & Cruikshank, J. (2020). Breaking the impasse: Consensual approaches to resolving public disputes. Basic Books.
Tolkach, D., & King, B. (2020). Collaborative governance in tourism: A systematic review. Tourism Management, 81, 104131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104131
Van der Wal, Z., & de Lange, R. (2021). The influence of collaborative governance on public trust: Evidence from the Netherlands. Public Management Review, 23(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2019.1639062
Weible, C. M., & Sabatier, P. A. (2020). The role of collaborative governance in the policy process: A review and future directions. Policy Studies Journal, 48(1), 29-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12327 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12327
Williams, P. (2020). The role of trust in collaborative governance: A systematic literature review. Public Management Review, 22(9), 1321-1342. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2019.1640780
Woldesenbet, W. G. (2020). Analyzing multi-stakeholder collaborative governance practices in urban water projects in Addis Ababa City: procedures, priorities, and structures. Applied Water Science, 10(1), 44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1137-z
Yaffee, S. L., & Wondolleck, J. M. (2020). Collaborative ecosystem governance: The role of stakeholders in the management of natural resources. Environmental Management, 66(2), 213-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01344-6
Zhang, Y., & Chen, Y. (2021). The impact of collaborative governance on sustainable urban development: Evidence from China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 66, 102703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102703.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdurrahman Kader, Ririn Fahri

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.