UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Kent, Daniel
Dept./Program:
Public Administration
Year:
2014
Degree:
M.P.A.
Abstract:
Many governmental decision-making processes occur in complex governance networks composed of interdependent public, private, and non-profit actors (Koliba et aI., 2010). These evolving organizational forms present democratic challenges (Sorenson and Torfing, 2005), but also present new opportunities for improving traditional forms of representative democracy (Warren, 2009). This project contributes to an emerging body of literature examining the democratic limitations and potentials ofgovernance networks. Research on governance networks and democracy can enhance our ability to identify and address democratic challlenges and take advantage of new opportunities.
This research project contributes to this endeavor by providing a case study analysis of an intergovernmental transportation planning network tasked with developing a major infrastructure project in Burlington, Vermont. The case is used to analyze how the democratic anchorage of the governance network has evolved throughout the lifecycle of the project. The analysis operationalizes an adaptation of the democratic anchorage framework (Sorenson and Torfing, 2005) to describe how public officials, stakeholder groups, citizens, and democratic rules and norms have collectively constituted the democratic strengths and weaknesses of the governance network.
The findings demonstrate the utility of the democratic anchorage framework when adapted to examine a roadway infrastructure project developed by an intergovernmental transportation planning network. The analysis highlights how each facet of democratic anchorage contributed to citizen and stakeholder capacity to influence project outcomes. The case shows how governance networks with strong democratic anchorage can complement representative democracy by providing citizens with new opportunities for engagement and influence. It also demonstrates that the strength of democratic anchorage evolves, and that weaknesses can be addressed throught representative democracy, changing perspectives of unelected officials, stakeholder groups and citizens with sufficient resources, and the creation of demorcratic rules.
This research project contributes to this endeavor by providing a case study analysis of an intergovernmental transportation planning network tasked with developing a major infrastructure project in Burlington, Vermont. The case is used to analyze how the democratic anchorage of the governance network has evolved throughout the lifecycle of the project. The analysis operationalizes an adaptation of the democratic anchorage framework (Sorenson and Torfing, 2005) to describe how public officials, stakeholder groups, citizens, and democratic rules and norms have collectively constituted the democratic strengths and weaknesses of the governance network.
The findings demonstrate the utility of the democratic anchorage framework when adapted to examine a roadway infrastructure project developed by an intergovernmental transportation planning network. The analysis highlights how each facet of democratic anchorage contributed to citizen and stakeholder capacity to influence project outcomes. The case shows how governance networks with strong democratic anchorage can complement representative democracy by providing citizens with new opportunities for engagement and influence. It also demonstrates that the strength of democratic anchorage evolves, and that weaknesses can be addressed throught representative democracy, changing perspectives of unelected officials, stakeholder groups and citizens with sufficient resources, and the creation of demorcratic rules.