Civic Environmental Stewardship as a Form of Governance in New York City

This study uses theories of ecological modernization (Mol, 2000; Mol, Sonnenfeld, & Spaargaren, 2009; A. P. J. Mol & G. Spaargaren, 2000; Tatenhove & Leroy, 2003) to understand better urban environmental stewardship groups and urban governance. Earlier versions of ecological modernization focus on the role of government and market actors as lead catalysts in addressing persistent environmental problems at the national and international level. However, in the urban environment, civic actors have long been at the forefront of addressing environmental concerns and, in certain instances, engaging in long-term management of public resources. How do contemporary civil society groups emerge as leaders in the field of urban environmental planning and open space management? How does that emergence explain the relationship between civic groups and government authorities as a new form of hybrid governance? Using a comparative case study design that involves a qualitative methodology grounded in open-ended, semi-structured interviews, I examine three public space projects in New York City within the boroughs of Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx. Included in this examination are the civic and governmental actors engaged in and around the three project sites. The study finds that the type of stewardship group combined with the nature of contentious politics can lead to varying degrees of hybrid governance. The study concludes that civil society has an important role to play within the framework of ecological modernization as civic groups engage shape state-led planning processes and take the lead in developing new models of urban governance.