https://doi.org/10.25678/000055

Data for: Bottom-up identification of subsystems in complex governance systems

Anonymized data and R scripts needed to replicate the identification of subsystems in Swiss water governance described in the study "Bottom-up identification of subsystems in complex governance systems".

Theories of policymaking often focus on subsystems within a larger, overarching governance system. However, subsystem identification is complicated by the complexity of governance systems, characterized by multiple, interrelated issues, multi‐level interactions, and a diverse set of organizations. This study suggests an empirical, bottom‐up methodology to identify subsystems. Subsystems are identified based on bundles of similar observed organizational activity. The study further suggests a set of three elementary criteria to classify individual subsystems. In order to prove the value of the methodology, subsystems are identified through cluster analysis, and subsequently classified in a study of Swiss water governance. Results suggest that Swiss water governance can be understood as a network of overlapping subsystems connected by boundary penetrating organizations, with high‐conflict and quiet politics subgroups. The study shows that a principled analysis of subsystems as the interconnected, constituent parts of complex governance systems offers insights into important contextual factors shaping outcomes. Such insights are prerequisite knowledge in order to understand and navigate complex systems for researchers and practitioners alike.

Data and Resources

Citation

This Data Package

Angst, M. (2018). Bottom-up identification of subsystems in Swiss water governance [Data set]. Eawag. https://doi.org/10.25678/000055

The associated article

Angst, M. (2018), Bottom-Up Identification of Subsystems in Complex Governance Systems, Policy Studies Journal, doi:10.1111/psj.12301.

Metadata

  Publication Data Package for:
Open Data Open Data
Author(s)
  • Angst, Mario
Keywords Switzerland,clustering,governance,political science,water governance,water politics,none
Systems
  • Social system
Timerange
  • 2015 TO 2017
Geographic Name(s)
  • Switzerland
Review Level none
Curator Angst, Mario
Contact mario.angst@eawag.ch
DOI 10.25678/000055