Constitutionality: Conditions for Crafting Local Ownership of Institution-Building Processes. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haller, Tobias; Acciaioli, Greg; Rist, Stephan
• Is Part Of: Society and natural resources. Volume 29:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: bargaining power -- emic views on institution building -- interfaces of local and national institutions -- local institutions -- natural resource governance; Natural resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2015.1041661
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-1920

Abstract

Abstract : This article presents constitutionality as a new approach for analyzing bottom-up institution-building processes emphasizing local perceptions and local agency in common pool resource management. Using four case studies—fisheries in Zambia; pasture and forestry in Mali; fisheries in Indonesia; forestry in Bolivia—this approach analyzes examples of local institution building differing from top-down imposed participation. Our analysis highlights six components of constitutionality: emic perceptions of the need for new institutions, participatory processes of negotiation, preexisting institutions as a basis for institution building, outside catalyzing agents, recognition of local knowledge, and higher level acknowledgment of the new institutions.