Papers, articles and books by Liza Griffin
Perspectives on Political Science, Jan 1, 2010
The concept of governance has provided many ways to theorise the shifting power relations between... more The concept of governance has provided many ways to theorise the shifting power relations between the state, interest groups and civil society over the last 30 years. Theorisations have culminated in 'spatial imaginaries' for visualising new governing practices and their associated power relations. By paying attention to these imaginaries, it is possible to see how each theory of governance brings particular spatialities of power to the fore, while necessarily foreclosing others.This foreclosure stems from a failure to visualise diverse and multiple modes of power in governance models and to take in power as a relative and spatially contingent property. This is not only theoretically significant, however; it also has important practical consequences for how we govern effectively in practice. I argue that rather than starting our analyses of governance arrangements with theoretical models which appear to predetermine our understanding of the spatial workings of power, we should instead remain open and attuned to the complex geographies of power that might actually operate in practices of governance on the ground. I suggest that by deploying John Allen's topological approach to power we can achieve a more relational and spatially contingent account of power in practice under the turn to governance. This will give us greater insight into actual governance arrangements and their limitations, exclusions and unevenness.
Environmental Politics, Jan 1, 2009
Rethinking the Public: Innovations in Research, …, Jan 1, 2010
Geoforum, Jan 1, 2010
This paper explores a series of maxims, widely known in policy and academic circles as the ‘princ... more This paper explores a series of maxims, widely known in policy and academic circles as the ‘principles of good governance’, which state that policymaking in the European Union (EU) should be participatory, conducted as close to citizens as practicable, transparent, accountable, effective and coherent. These maxims were introduced into EU fisheries management as part of a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2002. This reform was instituted in response to criticisms of a prevailing management regime alleged to be inefficient, undemocratic, and potentially responsible for an environmental crisis: the exhaustion of key fish stocks. The research for this work has found that there are limits to the actual achievement of good governance in EU fisheries. In practice governance innovations are very often contradictory and rife with tensions. I reason that such problems result not merely from policy implementation failures; they constitute a more endemic feature of the CFP reforms. We can begin to understand these limits to good governance principles by looking to Agamben’s permanent state of exception thesis. Agamben’s theory helps to show how these contradictions and tensions occur under new governance regimes, because the relationship between democratic norms (like good governance) and political power is no longer clear. I argue that this blurring has been exploited by groups seeking influence in these new regimes. They do this through citing a supposed need for emergency measures to mitigate crisis. Although this research broadly supports the state of exception thesis, my analysis leads me to question some aspects of its application in contemporary governance spaces.
Geography Compass, Jan 1, 2008
In the European Union, ‘principles of good governance’ have been instituted across several sector... more In the European Union, ‘principles of good governance’ have been instituted across several sectors in response to criticisms from environmentalists, business and the public, because of alleged inefficiency, inadequate policy implementation, democratic deficit and environmental crisis. In fisheries, the pursuit of good governance has gained extra significance because it has been posited as a means to eliminate many of the problems that characterise the sector, including the overexploitation of fish stocks, marine ecosystem degradation and fishing community vulnerability. This article explores good governance reforms put in place to deal with the North Sea fisheries crisis, with particular reference to the newly instated North Sea Regional Advisory Council. First, I describe the current state of North Sea fisheries and the problems associated with European fisheries management. I then show how these problems were dealt with in the European Union's pre-reformed Common Fisheries Policy. Finally, I explore the changes introduced in fisheries after the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, and suggest that the good governance of fisheries may not represent the panacea that some policy-makers and theorists maintain it is.
Environmental Policy and Governance, Jan 1, 2010
Geography Compass, Jan 1, 2008
This paper explores a series of maxims, widely known in policy and academic circles as the 'princ... more This paper explores a series of maxims, widely known in policy and academic circles as the 'principles of good governance', which state that policymaking in the European Union (EU) should be participatory, conducted as close to citizens as practicable, transparent, accountable, effective and coherent. These maxims were introduced into EU fisheries management as part of a radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2002. This reform was instituted in response to criticisms of a prevailing management regime alleged to be inefficient, undemocratic, and potentially responsible for an environmental crisis: the exhaustion of key fish stocks. The research for this work has found that there are limits to the actual achievement of good governance in EU fisheries. In practice governance innovations are very often contradictory and rife with tensions. I reason that such problems result not merely from policy implementation failures; they constitute a more endemic feature of the CFP reforms. We can begin to understand these limits to good governance principles by looking to Agamben's permanent state of exception thesis. Agamben's theory helps to show how these contradictions and tensions occur under new governance regimes, because the relationship between democratic norms (like good governance) and political power is no longer clear. I argue that this blurring has been exploited by groups seeking influence in these new regimes. They do this through citing a supposed need for emergency measures to mitigate crisis. Although this research broadly supports the state of exception thesis, my analysis leads me to question some aspects of its application in contemporary governance spaces.
International Journal of Green Economics, Jan 1, 2007
This paper explores and reveals some hitherto concealed powers relations in the European Union&am... more This paper explores and reveals some hitherto concealed powers relations in the European Union's new political-economic governance procedures. It does this through an empirical investigation of the fisheries stakeholder forum, the North Sea Regional Advisory Council. ...
Our bodies play an influential part in the production of our society and in the mediation between... more Our bodies play an influential part in the production of our society and in the mediation between society and nature. Yet, despite its importance, a comprehensive theorisation of the body has proved elusive. The most dominant paradigms in theorising bodies have been those associated with the linguistic turn and, in particular, discourse studies. This paper argues that, however persuasive, linguistic theories cannot be used on their own to interpret many of the body's practices and expressive powers. For such totalising, purely 'textual', philosophies neglect those aspects of life that actually structure linguistic systems themselves; such as being and performing in the world. I argue that somatic feeling exists before and underneath linguistic expression, and is not subordinate to it. The case is made through considering the connections between textural theories and uninterpretive praxis. In sum, it is necessary to look beyond linguistic theory to another kind of approach which attempts to theorise what cannot be represented, that is, non-representational theory.
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Papers, articles and books by Liza Griffin