Commons, Super Wicked Problems Responsibility

Keywords
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Issue Date
2017-08-14
Language
en
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is dangerous and needs to be dealt with. This is the starting point of this thesis. From here two different debates are explored and it is assessed whether they are able to provide solutions. The first debate shows that climate change can be considered a “Tragedy of the Commons.” The key to overcoming the tragedy lies in cooperation. Therefore cosmopolitanism, Confucianism and republicanism are explored. However, empirical evidence shows it is difficult to establish cooperation in the case of a global commons. Furthermore, climate change can also be viewed as a “super wicked problem.” Literature on this concept claims a super wicked problem can be counteracted through neutralizing hyperbolic discounting, which all starts with a change of attitude. Therefore, this thesis analyses the concept of responsibility. Through this argument it will become clear that we can no longer exempt ourselves from responsibility in climate change. However, while super wicked problems literature offers a policy tool based on path dependency, it remains somewhat unclear how we can move from a change of attitude to a decrease in temperature. Key
Description
Citation
Faculty
Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen