Title: Technologies for sustainability: a governmentality perspective

Authors: Shona Russell; Bob Frame

Addresses: Sustainability and Society, Landcare Research, P.O. Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand ' Sustainability and Society, Landcare Research, P.O. Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand

Abstract: New technologies are needed to address sustainability issues through emerging forms of governance. These will be concerned with agency, performance and citizenship as much as with traditional biophysical concerns. The governance of water is a complex and critical issue where sustainability issues are coming to the fore and in which, we contend, technologies for sustainability are likely to emerge and develop. Accordingly, we examine and reflect on use of technologies as part of water governance in Scotland and New Zealand to consider if and how technologies are able to contest the current rationalities of government that do not appear to be delivering sustainable outcomes. Many assert that the rationality of advanced liberalism pervades governance of water despite claims of pursuing sustainability, and our findings support that assertion whereby current technologies are unlikely to facilitate sustainability.

Keywords: governance; governmentality; post-normal science; PNS; water governance; sustainability technologies; Scotland; New Zealand; sustainable development; government rationalities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2013.053792

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.16 No.1/2, pp.91 - 106

Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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