A qualitative comparative analysis of collaborative governance structures as applied in urban gardens. Issue 11 (2nd November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molenveld, Astrid; Voorberg, William; Van Buuren, Arwin; Hagen, Liselotte
• Is Part Of: Public management review. Volume 23:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 1683
• Page End: 1704
• Publication Date: 2021-11-02
• Subjects: Collaborative governance structure -- fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) -- urban gardens; Local government -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2021.1879912
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-9037

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Many public issues require collaboration between governments, private actors, NGOs, civic organizations, and individual organizations. Initiating such a collaboration is challenging, but sustaining such a partnership can be even more difficult. This paper aims to explore what types of collaborative governance structures (CGSs) are found in urban gardens that have continued to exist over the years and that have been discontinued. In order to do this, we analysed 14 urban gardens in the Netherlands as striking examples of CGSs. By applying Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (FsQCA), we were able to unravel plausible explanations for gardens that (did not) stand the test of time. The analysis shows that financial independence, strong institutionalization, and having a small core group of volunteers is the most important configuration for the durability of an urban garden. Even though some gardens were meant to be temporary, this structure made them durable. Two urban gardens – envisioned to be temporal – did not develop an institutional design or financial independence, which led to their discontinuation.