The book addresses theoretically and empirically the question under what conditions innovative and sustainable policies can be achieved through participatory governance.

Während der Governance-Begriff wissenschaftlich als konsolidiert gelten dürfte, gibt es Probleme bei der praktischen Umsetzung der mit ihm verbundenen Idee. Das englischsprachige Buch misst einige der im "Whitebook on Governance" der EU-Kommission angesprochenen Problemfelder aus und trägt so zur Operationalisierung des Begriffes bei.

Title first published in 2003. This book focuses on whether participatory governance can lead to sustainable and innovative outcomes. Using an empirical analysis of the development, implementation and review of an EU environmental management system - the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), it examines under which circumstances participatory governance might encourage sustainability and innovation.

This Handbook concentrates on democracy beyond the traditional governmental structures to explore the full scope of participatory governance. It argues that it is a political task to turn the shift from government to governance into participatory forms, and reflects on the notion of democracy and participatory governance, and how they can relate to each other. The volume offers key examples of how governance can be turned into a participatory form.

An empirical assessment of whether participatory governance reforms within the EU enhance or endanger democracy. Many consider allowing civil society to take an active role in EU policy-making to offer the most effective means of enhancing democracy in the EU, whereas others argue that such attempts deepen the EU's democratic deficit.

In the emerging new collaborative economic order, innovation is achieved by an integrated process of collaboration between policymakers, business and society. Often, the focus for this collaboration is at a regional level. Creating Collaborative Advantage examines the trends in innovation policy that reflect this new thinking and regional focus. This book develops the view that collaboration is one of many ways of organising a competitive economy. It asks how, when and where collaboration is a meaningful way of organisation. It explores collaboration at business level, business networks between companies, and a wider collaborative coalition between business and public authorities. It is not a manual, a 'how to do it', because there is no single straightforward universal model to replace current orthodoxy on economic development, but it will enable people to learn. The contributors to this unique book have been involved with the implementation of some of the most outstanding examples of collaborative approaches, it therefore gives an outstanding picture of diversity, inbuilt comparisons and contrast, and debate between the cases. The co-authors give their understanding of these issues, but the book tries to establish some common understandings and bring the concept of collaboration to a larger audience, and to increase interest in a field which requires further exploration. Policy makers, advisers and administrators at all levels of government, those involved in research and development, and business leaders and educators, will find this book invaluable, together with readers having an academic interest in the subject of innovation.

'An imaginative and stimulating collection of essays that makes an indispensable contribution to the literature on forest and environmental policy and governance.' – David Humphreys, the Open University, UK 'This is a very timely, relevant and interesting volume. Environmental problems are pertinent problems, as the book rightly states, so we need continuous attention and effort to analyse and apply environmental governance modes. Although urgently needed, their effectiveness and legitimacy are neither straight forward nor given. Therefore, a thorough in-depth analysis of these modes, their characteristics and their pros and cons is very helpful, both for academics and policy makers. This is exactly what this book offers.' – Bas Arts, Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands 'This excellent collection of articles by leading scholars in a variety of natural resource policy fields examines cases in participation, horizontal and vertical co-ordination, and the role of science and expertise in environmental policy formation. the legitimacy and effectiveness of each of these key components of governance and meta-governance regimes is assessed in important areas such as climate change and parks and wilderness preservation. the volume brings an admirable consistency of focus to the analysis of new governance modes in environmental policy and sheds new light upon important recent trends and developments in the area.' – Michael Howlett, Simon Fraser University, Canada Environmental policy making has become an experimental field for new modes of governance. This timely book focuses on three prominent characteristics of new governance arrangements: the broad participation of non-state actors, the attempt to improve vertical and horizontal coordination, and the effort to integrate different types of expertise in an effective and democratically accountable way. Building on the analytical perspectives of legitimacy and effectiveness, which are seen as genuine acid test criteria for new governance, this book provides a critical assessment of current practices of participation, coordination and evidence-based policy making in various case studies of environmental governance, in particular in the fields of biodiversity, climate and forest policy. the book provides insights from selected governance processes that go beyond consultancy-style best-practice examples but are embedded in a solid conceptual and theoretical discussion that will be invaluable to policymakers. It will also prove essential for scholars interested in environmental politics; policy studies; public policy; public administration; European politics; as well as science and technology studies.