The case studies aim to provide insights on the strengths and weaknesses of selected governance approaches, how they are linked with selected adaptation policies, and in how far they may be transferable to other contexts. In the case studies, the functioning and the relevance of governance approaches are analysed in the context of major adaptation policies. The case studies are concerned with the following policies or policy instruments: - National and sub-national adaptation strategies and action plans;
- Legal instruments, such as spatial planning regulations (to prevent flooding damages) and building codes;
- Financial instruments, such as subsidy schemes, tax breaks and risk transfer instruments;
- Partnerships (in particular public-private partnerships) and voluntary agreements (‘covenants’), e.g. on infrastructure improvements.
Furthermore, the case studies also provide insights on the functioning of multi-level governance by exploring to what degree national governance approaches covered in the survey are linked to sub-national adaptation policies. Case selection: The case studies resemble “case research with a purpose”. That is, we enter the case study process with specific research questions and a deliberate case study design, where the selection of cases is based on a deliberate decision (Harrison & Freeman 1999, 482). The case studies are selected from the shortlisted adaptation policies that have been identified as being linked to the surveyed governance approaches. Instead of covering all 10 surveyed countries with a single case study we conduct two case studies for 4-5 countries for which the survey has shown that they are more active than others. For each of the 4-5 countries, one case is drawn from the national and one from a sub-national level. The case studies provide insights on major adaptation policies, and they deepen the knowledge on the governance approaches surveyed. They may reveal governance approaches that look good on the (surveyed) surface but face limitations and difficulties on the ground of actual policy making. The following (preliminary) set of criteria guides the selection of the case studies. The selected adaptation policies should - Be relevant for the governance challenges outlined above;
- Address these governance challenges with different types of governance approaches, including permanent structures and institutionalised bodies as well as ad-hoc approaches of coordination and participation;
- Represent a mixture of national and sub-national cases so that multi-level governance issues can be explored.
- Be relevant for adaptation policies in Austria (thematically as well as procedurally).
Data collection methods and documentation: By drawing on different sources of information in the case studies, a “chain of evidence” enhances the construct validity of the research (Yin 2003, 35f, 97-106). The case studies combine - Desk research covering internet sources, policy documents and academic literature;
- Qualitative semi-structured interviews with government officials responsible for the policy in question;
- Qualitative semi-structured interviews with stakeholders that are involved in or have expertise on the policy in question.
Obviously, interviews with policy makers and relevant stakeholders play a key role in answering these questions. We conduct at least 4 interviews per case (i.e. 32-40 interviews in total). They are transcribed selectively and interpreted qualitatively. The interview guides are developed based on the analytical frame developed at the beginning of the project and the survey findings. | |
