This session breaks down a series of key concepts regarding the framing of public action and climate change. It addresses the need for a systemic view, what this means and how can we develop it. It also introduces climate action as a complex adaptive system that is peppered with the so called wicked problems, or super wicked problems. The session wraps up focusing on the changing nature of the future and how can we better positions ourselves to debate it. 

Reading List

Coyne, R. (2005). Wicked problems revisited. Design studies, 26(1), 5-17.

Head, B. W., & Alford, J. (2015). Wicked problems: Implications for public policy and management. Administration & society, 47(6), 711-739.

Levin, K., Cashore, B., Bernstein, S., & Auld, G. (2009). Playing it forward: Path dependency, progressive incrementalism, and the" Super Wicked" problem of global climate change. In IOP Conference Series. Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 6, No. 50). IOP Publishing.

Levin, K., Cashore, B., Bernstein, S., & Auld, G. (2012). Overcoming the tragedy of super wicked problems: constraining our future selves to ameliorate global climate change. Policy sciences, 45, 123-152.

Lönngren, J., & Van Poeck, K. (2021). Wicked problems: A mapping review of the literature. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 28(6), 481-502.

Peters, B. G. (2017). What is so wicked about wicked problems? A conceptual analysis and a research program. Policy and Society, 36(3), 385-396.

Kay, A. (2005). A critique of the use of path dependency in policy studies. Public administration, 83(3), 553-571.

Mahoney, J. (2000). Path dependence in historical sociology. Theory and society, 29(4), 507-548. 

Monat, J. P., & Gannon, T. F. (2015). What is systems thinking? A review of selected literature plus recommendations. American Journal of Systems Science, 4(1), 11-26.

Peters, B. G., Pierre, J., & King, D. S. (2005). The politics of path dependency: Political conflict in historical institutionalism. The journal of politics, 67(4), 1275-1300.

Peters, B. G. (2017). What is so wicked about wicked problems? A conceptual analysis and a research program. Policy and Society, 36(3), 385-396.

Rittel, H. W., & Webber, M. M. (1974). Wicked problems. Man-made Futures, 26(1), 272-280.

Williams, A., Kennedy, S., Philipp, F., & Whiteman, G. (2017). Systems thinking: A review of sustainability management research. Journal of Cleaner Production, 148, 866-881.