Suchergebnisse

Die vorliegende Dissertation hat zum Ziel, den forstpolitische Prozess in Bulgarien in der Transformationsperiode zu beschreiben und verstehend zu erklären. Im Zentrum der politikwissenschaftlichen Analyse steht die Beantwortung der zentralen Forschungsfrage, warum die Umsetzung des Politikziels der Sicherstellung einer 'nachhaltigen Waldwirtschaft' in Bulgarien ein andauerndes Konfliktfeld, das durch Politikwandel und Politikblockaden geprägt wird, darstellt. Die Arbeit beginnt mit einem einleitenden Kapitel, in dem die wesentlichen Ziele, Ausgangsbedingungen und Umsetzungsherausforderungen im Hinblick auf die Sicherstellung einer 'nachhaltigen Waldwirtschaft' auf internationaler und nationaler Ebene beschrieben werden. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden die Forschungsziele und die Untersuchungsfragen der Arbeit abgeleitet. Diesem Kapitel folgt eine Darstellung des Hintergrundwissens des Autors. Das folgende Kapitel beschäftigt sich mit dem Stand des Wissens zum Begriff der 'forstlichen Nachhaltigkeit'. Anschließend erfolgt eine theoretische Verortung der Analytik der Arbeit im Lehrgebäude der wissenschaftlichen Politikanalyse. Als erstes werden zentrale politikwissenschaftliche Begrifflichkeiten und Konzepte erörtert. Als nächstes wird eine eingehende Diskussion theoretischer Konzepte und Modelle des politischen Prozesses durchgeführt. Hierbei werden zwei konkrete akteurszentrierte theoretische Ansätze herangezogen, die Kausalmechanismen und Einflussfaktoren für die Analyse zur Verfügung stellen. Zum einen wird der in der Sozialpsychologie verwurzelte 'Advocacy-Coalitionen'-Ansatz ('Advocacy Coalition Framework') nach SABATIER und Kollegen (1988, 1993, 1999, 2007) näher vorgestellt und diskutiert. Zum anderen werden die politikökonomisch begründeten Konzepte der Theorie rationaler ('Rational choice') (nach KUNZ 2005) bzw. der Theorie struktureller Wahl ('Politics of structural choice') (MOE 1989, 1990) umrissen. Aus einer solchen Perspektive gilt, dass Konflikt und somit auch Dynamik des politischen Prozesses vor allem von Interessengegensätzen und Verteilungskonflikten über Macht und Kontrolle von (materiellen) Ressourcen bestimmt wird. Auf dieser Grundlage werden Modellannahmen und forschungsleitende Hypothesen abgeleitet, die die empirische Ergebnisgenerierung anleiten. Das nächste Kapitel führt in die methodischen Grundlagen der Politikfeldanalyse ein und präsentiert die konkrete Methodik der Untersuchung. Dabei werden Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung verwandt. Die Untersuchungsmethodik lässt sich als theoriegeleitete, qualitative Politikfeldanalyse bezeichnen. Aus der Brandbreite an Erhebungstechniken wurde das problemzentrierte Interview als zentrales Erhebungsinstrument für die vorliegende Arbeit ausgewählt. Ergänzend wurde Dokumentenanalyse durchgeführt. Die Auswertung der erhobenen Daten wurde mit Hilfe von qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse durchgeführt. Das nächste Kapitel werden die Ergebnisse der empirischen Untersuchung vorgestellt. Das letzte Kapitel diskutiert die Ergebnisse der Arbeit im Lichte anderer Lehrmeinungen und empirischer Untersuchungen. Dementsprechend werden die Ergebnisse der Arbeit zunächst im Hinblick auf die angewandten theoretischen Modelle und die daraus abgeleiteten Hypothesen diskutiert. Anschließend werden sie mit dem relevanten Stand des Wissens und inhaltlich nahen Studien verglichen. Danach werden die angewandten Methoden auf ihre Vor- und Nachteile bezüglich des Erkenntnisgewinns in der vorliegenden Arbeit erörtert. Somit wird abschließend eine theoretisch reflektierte, methodisch fundierte und empirisch abgesicherte Beantwortung der eingangs der Arbeit gestellten Forschungsfrage gegeben. Zusammenfassend kann gefolgert werden, dass der forstpolitische Prozess in Bulgarien durch sowohl interessen- als auch ideengeleitete Handlungen unter dynamischen Kontextfaktoren bestimmt wird. Diese drei Aspekte dürften auf eine prägnante Art und Weise die Frage nach dem komplexen forstpolitischen Prozess beantwortet haben. ; The present PhD thesis aims to describe and understand the forest policy process in Bulgaria over the transformation period to date. The following research question stands central to the policy analysis applied: why does the implementation of the policy goal of securing a 'sustainable forest management' represent a continuous field of social conflict in Bulgaria? The introductory chapter describes the objectives, initial conditions and implementation handicaps in regard to 'sustainable forest management' at the international and national level. The research goals and the analytical questions are then presented. A background chapter discloses the author's pre-existent knowledge of the phenomena under study as regards the defining features of the Bulgarian forests, forestry and forest policy developments since 1990 to date. The following state-of-the-art chapter discusses the concept of 'sustainable forest management' from a policy science perspective. The next chapter sets the theoretical and analytical framework for the study. After discussion of the main terms and concepts of policy sciences, relevant theoretical approaches of the public policy process and policy change are outlined. The Advocacy coalition framework (ACF) developed by P. SABATIER and associates (1988, 1993, 1999, 2007), and rooted in social psychology is drawn on to provide for analytical toolkit for tracing the forest policy conflicts as well as for explaining policy dynamics as the result of competition among policy ideas under constraining external events. Furthermore, the Rational choice theory (RC) (e.g. after KUNZ 2005) and the Theory of politics of structural choice (SC) by T. MOE (1989, 1990) founded in political economy, are outlined, too. These perspectives hold that dynamic and complex policy and politics is by and large due to actors' rational strategies seeking to maximize personal welfare and self-interests in response to diverging interests, conflicts over power and control of material political resources (e.g. authority, income, prestige etc.). Based on the ACF, RC and SC, model assumptions and nine research hypotheses are derived that guide the research process. The next chapter introduces the applied research design of theory-driven qualitative analysis of forest policy processes such as legislative forestry reforms, participatory national forest strategy and market-based forest certification over the last three legislative periods (1997-2001; 2001-2005; 2005-onwards). Primary data is collected through thirty-nine problem-centred interviews with stakeholder from the policy elite within two subsequent field studies in fall 2006 and 2007. The interviews are based on semi-structured, theory based and open-ended qualitative questions. In order to supplement and verify the data gathered during the interviews, a secondary literature (e.g. official documents, policy papers and mass-media publications) is consulted too. The data collected is analysed through qualitative content analysis. The next chapter presents the empirical results. The thesis concludes that the theoretical perspectives applied hold descriptive and explanatory power. However, several theoretical gaps and limitations are detected. Thus, a synthesis of both theoretical lenses is claimed to be more productive approach for generating more empirically realistic and theoretically appropriate insights. Lastly, it is argued that the applied methods of data collection and analysis have proved worth since there are supported by high degree of validity, reliability and objectivity of the research process and results. All in all, in the closing sub-chapter the thesis draws the conclusion that the implementation of the policy goal of 'sustainable forest management' is challenging enterprise in Bulgaria due to actors' behaviour based on a composition of belief systems and self-interests as well as due to conflicts over power under changing external events.

AbstractThe European Union (EU) Timber Regulation (EUTR) formally requires EU operators to conduct due diligence along their supply chains to prevent illegally sourced timber products from entering the European market. Little is known about the regulatory behaviour and motivations of operators to comply with this regulation. We explore the regulatory behaviour of companies by applying a synthesis of behavioural theories of regulatory compliance and transnational market regulation. Informed by qualitative and quantitative mixed methods, this study finds that EUTR compliance is influenced by operators' regulative, economic, normative and cultural‐cognitive motivations. The empirical analyses reveal that larger, publicly exposed companies are driven to comply through social pressure and the deterrence effect of sanctions and control. Operators' perceptions of the costs and benefits do not explain compliance behaviour in a significant, quantitative way. The Internal values to abide by the law are found to be a stronger motivator than economic cost–benefit calculations.

AbstractThe European Union (EU) has recently introduced the Deforestation Regulation to close regulatory gaps in the sustainability and legality of global forest and agricultural commodity supply chains. We analyze this regulatory policy change by drawing on accountability scholarship and institutionalist theories of regulation. Our results show that the Regulation aims to enhance corporate accountability mechanisms through mostly state‐based hard regulation of commodity supply chains, reducing the role of market incentives and private regulation. This policy change is found to be the result of strategic policy‐oriented learning from perceived accountability failures of existing soft market‐based instruments, voluntary trade agreements, and experience with market‐correcting EU timber legality trade rules in a politically favorable context. The institutionalization of new forest‐risk commodity supply chain accountability norms in new EU trade rules would, by design, harden foreign corporate accountability for negative socio‐environmental externalities. However, the de‐facto hardening will depend on the final regulatory design, acceptance, compliance, implementation, enforcement improvements, and avoidance of leakage effects.

Policy integration is a challenging process that involves the renegotiation of interests, beliefs, and sectoral policy boundaries. In this paper we introduce European forest policy as an arena that is characterized by a policy (dis)integration paradox. On the one hand, the need for better coordination and integration of fragmented policies is frequently expressed. On the other hand, little has been achieved in terms of policy integration despite several initiatives. Drawing on fifty semistructured interviews with European forest policy makers and participatory observation, we assess, firstly, effects of and reasons for the disintegration paradox and, secondly, the strategic importance of distinct forest policy initiatives that are legitimized by the need for better policy integration. Our data demonstrate that the forest policy (dis)integration paradox can be explained by different factors, with economic interests and sectoral and institutional competition being most important. Under such circumstances, policy integration serves as frequently used rhetoric to consolidate sectoral interests; however, substance-wise, it is simply not happening.

European forest policymaking is shaped by progressing European integration, yet with notable ideological divisions and diverging interests among countries. This paper focuses on the coalitional politics of key environmental forest issues: biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection policy. Combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Shifting Coalition Theory, and informed by more than 186 key informant interviews and 73 policy documents spanning a 20-year timeframe, we examine the evolution of coalitional forest politics in Europe. We find that the basic line-up has remained stable: an environmental coalition supporting EU environmental forest policy integration and a forest sector coalition mostly opposing it. Still, strategic alliances across these coalitions have occurred for specific policy issues which have resulted in a gradual establishment of an EU environmental forest policy. We conclude with discussion of our findings and provide suggestions for further research. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01644-5.

European forest policymaking is shaped by progressing European integration, yet with notable ideological divisions and diverging interests among countries. This paper focuses on the coalitional politics of key environmental forest issues: biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection policy. Combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Shifting Coalition Theory, and informed by more than 186 key informant interviews and 73 policy documents spanning a 20-year time frame, we examine the evolution of colaitional forest politics in Europe. We find that the basic line-up has remained stable: and environmental colaition supporting EU environmental policy integration and a forest sector colaition mostly opposing it. Still, strategic alliances across these colations have occurred for specific policy issues which have resulted in a gradual establishment of an EU environmental forest policy. We conclude with discussion of our findings and provide suggestions for further resesarch.

In this paper, we explore how European and domestic factors have shaped environmental governance in the case of European Union biodiversity policy implementation in Bulgaria and Croatia. We argue that a 'symbolic transformation' of environmental governance in Bulgaria and Croatia has occurred, as the interplay between Europeanization and domestic politics has led to differential empowerment of state and non-state actors resulting in ineffective environmental governance. While proenvironment non-state groups (environmental non-governmental organizations, scientists) and European Union institutions were empowered in the phase of formal compliance, economic interest groups have held sway over the phase of practical (non-)compliance. At the same time, state actors have responded rationally to retain their power by adapting to opposing forces from above and below. We conclude by discussing the 'symbolic transformation' of environmental governance shifting between 'command-and-control' and 'non-hierarchical' coordination with regards to the transformative power of Europe in light of Europeanization research in old and new European Union member states.