Recognising ecological reflexivity: an alternative approach to partnership capabilities for collaborative governance

Ecological reflexivity provides a key lever for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but is underexplored in one prominent context: collaborative governance particularly associated with SDG 17. Using an exploratory study and novel approach to Q methodology, we investigate capabilities needed for advancing collaborative governance and cross-sector partnering through an exploratory study. Rather than treating these capacities as universal standards or aims for collaboration between varied stakeholders, they were offered as options that actors may value and choose to advance (or not). Local sustainability-focused actors in North West England sorted capabilities as statements, which discursively reframe multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) building blocks. The first analysis reveals three viewpoints that we name: The Convener, The Connector, and The Chair. The themes of communicative coordination, reflexivity, and power emerged in the three viewpoints, expressing distinct discourses. A separate, second analysis explores a viewpoint encompassing capabilities needed for ecological reflexivity. Our findings demonstrate possible barriers to some approaches valued in the MSP literature such as systems thinking. Finally, in our action research setting, it is possible that the methodology itself facilitated ecological reflexivity and offered entry points to enable agency in the context of SDG 17 and collaboration of diverse actors towards SDG implementation.