A Theoretical Framework for Exploring the Capability of Participatory and Collective Governance in Sustainable Decision-Making

Since the adoption of Agenda 21 the call for more participation in environmental decisionmaking has gained in uence and prominence. This paper presents an extensive theoretical literature review as a starting point for profound scienti c research on the interrelation between collective modes of stakeholder participation and decision-making with sustainable outcomes. On the basis of literature in the elds of participatory governance, collective action theory and diverse sustainability approaches, the paper develops a research matrix with various sub-variables. In addition, the paper reviews the actor-centred institutionalist approach of Fritz Scharpf and Renate Mayntz and system theoretic approaches of David Easton and Gabriel Almond, which are then mutually used for designing a theoretical framework linking collective participation and decisionmaking with sustainable outcomes. The paper concludes by suggesting an application of the elaborated framework and research matrix to empirical studies.