Structure and Agent in the Scientific Diplomacy of Climate Change

by Skodvin, Tora

• ISBN13: 9780792366379
• ISBN10: 0792366379
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

Research input constitutes a key component in the development of international environmental regime formation. Science-policy interaction is, however, complex and difficult, particularly because it is an encounter between two distinct systems of behaviour: the scientific ideal of impartiality and disinterestedness and the political reality of interest realisation and strategic behaviour. This study analyses the extent to which and how the institutional framework within which the science-policy dialogue takes place - through conscious design - can be utilised as an instrument to handle obstacles and barriers immanent of science-policy interaction and thereby serve as an instrument to enhance the effectiveness of the dialogue. Also, the impact of actor behaviour, particularly behaviour taking the form of leadership performance, is investigated. This book provides a detailed and in-depth empirical study of science-policy interaction in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from its establishment in 1988, to the provision of the Second IPCC Assessment Report in 1995. The main focus of the empirical investigation is on Working Group I of the IPCC.

Table of Contents

Acronyms	ix
Acknowledgements	xi
Introduction	1	(12)
Structure and Agent in Science--Policy Interaction	1	(4)
The Scientific Diplomacy of Climate Change	5	(2)
Structure of the book	7	(3)
Generalisations	10	(3)
Effectiveness in Processes of Science--Policy Interaction.	13	(14)
Introduction	13	(1)
Effectiveness as Realisation of Official Purpose	14	(3)
Policy Acceptance as Reflected in a Consensual Problem Diagnosis	17	(3)
The Development of a Consensual Problem Diagnosis	18	(2)
Towards a Comprehensive Definition of Effectiveness	20	(2)
A ``Consensual Problem Diagnosis'' versus ``Consensual Knowledge''	22	(2)
In Sum	24	(3)
The Science--Policy Nexus	27	(38)
Introduction	27	(1)
The Internal Dynamics of Scientific Inquiry	28	(12)
The Role of Consensus in Science	29	(5)
The Development of Consensus in Science	34	(6)
In Sum	40	(1)
The Internal Dynamics of Politics	40	(16)
The Strategic Value of Information in Distributive Bargaining	41	(4)
The Role of Information in Integrative Bargaining	45	(4)
The Dilemmas of Mixed Bargaining	49	(2)
What Kind of Information is Needed and When?	51	(4)
In Sum	55	(1)
The Dynamics of Science--Policy Interaction	56	(7)
Scientific Knowledge as Legitimisation for Policy Choice	57	(4)
``Negotiating'' Knowledge	61	(2)
In Sum	63	(2)
Designing Institutions for Science--Policy Interaction	65	(28)
Introduction	65	(1)
Institutions Defined	66	(1)
Do Institutions Matter, and Can They be Designed?	67	(4)
Social Institutions as Rational, Natural and Open Systems	68	(1)
Institutions as Instruments	69	(2)
Realising the Instrumental Potential of Institutional Design.	71	(9)
Institutional Functions	71	(2)
Linking Functions to Institutional Devices	73	(7)
Leadership Performance	80	(7)
Leadership Performance in Negotiations	81	(2)
The Role of Scientific Elites	83	(1)
Leadership Functions in Processes of Science--Policy Interaction	84	(3)
Links Between Institutional Design and Leadership Performance	87	(1)
Problem Malignancy and the State of Knowledge	87	(3)
Problem Malignancy	88	(2)
State of Knowledge	90	(1)
In Sum	90	(3)
The Development of an International Regime on a Human-Induced Climate Change	93	(12)
Introduction	93	(1)
The Problem of a Human-Induced Climate Change	93	(4)
The Scientific and Political History of the Development of an International Regime on a Human-Induced Climate Change	97	(3)
The Effectiveness of the Science--Policy Dialogue	100	(3)
In Sum	103	(2)
Structure: The Institutional Design of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change	105	(46)
Introduction	105	(1)
The Institutional Set-up of the IPCC	106	(3)
The Assessment Process of the IPCC	109	(14)
The Assessment Process in Principle	109	(3)
The Assessment Process in Practice: The Proceedings of WGI	112	(7)
The Assessment Process in Practice -- In Contrast to the Proceedings of the Old WGIII	119	(4)
The Capacity of the Institutional Arrangements of the IPCC to Serve the Four Main Functions	123	(19)
Scientific Autonomy	123	(3)
Science--Policy Integration	126	(4)
Geographic Representativeness	130	(2)
Mechanisms for Conflict Resolution	132	(10)
Enhanced Effectiveness?	142	(9)
Score	142	(3)
Effect	145	(6)
Agent: Leadership Performance in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change	151	(42)
Introduction	151	(1)
Identifying Leadership Performance	152	(30)
Actor Capabilities	153	(3)
Leadership in the Development of the Knowledge Base	156	(5)
Leadership in the Transformation of Scientific Knowledge	161	(7)
Boundary-role leadership in the Development of Institutional Arrangements	168	(9)
Boundary-role Leadership in the Provision of Communicative Links	177	(5)
Institutional Conditions for Leadership Performance	182	(6)
A Mandate for Leadership?	183	(3)
Leadership Recruitment	186	(2)
Enhanced Effectiveness?	188	(5)
Causal Relationship: Real or Spurious?	193	(32)
Introduction	193	(3)
The Political Malignancy of the Problem of a Human Induced Climate Change	196	(10)
The State of Knowledge	206	(14)
The Scientific Uncertainty of Climate Change	207	(3)
The IPCC's handling of Scientific Uncertainty	210	(9)
In Sum	219	(1)
Causal Relationship Real?	220	(5)
Structure and Agent in the Scientific Diplomacy of Climate Change	225	(10)
References	235	(14)
Appendix	249	(2)
Index	251