Mapping Divergent Knowledge Claims in Heterogeneous Constellations. The Case of Regional Flood Prote

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Mapping Divergent Knowledge Claims in
Heterogeneous Constellations. The Case of
Regional Flood Protection Policy. Martin
Meister1, Sylvia Kruse2, Susanne Schön1,2
1Center for Technology and Society, Technical
University of Berlin 2nexus - institute for
resource management organisational development,
Berlin
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The problem

• two aspects of agora-like situations
• 1. hope of broadening stakeholders participation
• 2. multiplication of relevant viewpoints
• diversity of knowledge claims can work against
• successful decision making
• successful issue formation
• gt possibility of participation is undermined
  even if desired
• need of new methodological proposals

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The case studyRegional flood protection policy

• objective parameters seem to be promising
• disastrous river Elbe flood in 2002
• wide-ranging political programs and financial
  support
• national level policy
• creating more space for rivers
• local authorities as opponents
• short-term perspective raising of dikes
• gt picture seems to be clear, well known from
  STS-studies
• but it is not clear at all
• concert of actors involved leads to mutual
  blockade
• unmanageable and even incomprehensible field of
  conflict

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Constellation analysis

• methodological approach for
• complex situations and problems
• that call for interdisciplinary co-operation
• features
• middle range concept bridging different areas
  of expertise
• mainly works with graphical representations (the
  minds eye)
• collective graphical mapping of the relevant
  elements and relations
• difference between social actors, technical and
  natural elements, systems of signs highlighted,
  but no a priori decision about relevancy
• in this talk mapping of different perspectives

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The simple picture
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Dissolution of the simple picture

• Inconsistencies
• 1. asymmetrical distribution of power not so
  definite (local population)
• 2. multiplicity of values and rationalities in
  each camp
• 3. attachment of elements to camps ambiguous
  (polders)
• 4. different mutual perception of actors
• gt challenge
• to plot heterogeneity and diversity
• and to preserve a minimum of comparability
• methodological trick
• focus on the material core

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First perspectiveLHW (Landesamt für
Hochwasserschutz)Regional authority for flood
protection
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First perspective (LHW) Range of considered
flood protection measures
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First perspective (LHW) Mediation between
different actors
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Second perspectivePopulation of Waldersee
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Second perspective Waldersee
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Third perspectiveKulturstiftungAuthority for
the protection of historical monuments
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Third perspective (Kulturstiftung)Protection
from protection measures
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Next steps

• Maps (graphical evidence) can be used for
  different goals
• 1. Confront the actors involved with
  heterogeneity
• - uncover misunderstanding and blind spots
• - I never thought they could perceive the river
  that way!
• 2. Tool for structuring a mediation process
• recognizing (hidden) mutual linkages
• preparation of issue formation and collective
  decision making
• gt possibility of successful participation
• 3. Search for a focused map of the whole
  situation
• stakeholders viewpoints as data for analysis,
  incl. feedback
• one single focused map as result??

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Lessons learned (thus far)

• The emergence of agora-like situations
• by no means guarantees the possibility of
  stakeholders participation
• diversity of viewpoints (and messy heterogeneity)
  have to be seriously considered
• even can be the main reason for blockades
• Constellation analysis A suitable tool for
• mapping diversity of viewpoints (necessary for
  any analysis)
• focus on non-human elements as a possible
  starting point
• graphical evidence can be use for enlightenment
  and mediation tasks

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Thank you for the attention
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Thank you for the attention

• further information available
• paper on Constellation analysis
• Schön, Susanne, Benjamin Nölting und Martin
  Meister 2004, Konstellationsanalyse. Ein
  interdisziplinäres Brückenkonzept für die
  Technik-, Nachhaltigkeits- und Innova-tionsforschu
  ng. Berlin Zentrum Technik und Gesellschaft der
  TU Berlin (ZTG discussion paper 12).
  Internetdokument unter
• http//www.ztg.tu-berlin.de/pdf/Konstellationsana.
  pdf
• website of the research project
• Blocked Transition? Spaces for Thinking and
  Action
• in Sustainable Regional Development
• http//www.blockierter-wandel.de/

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Region Muldemündung
Quelle Nadine Seidel
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