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cio-economic systems and adaptive governance (Anderies, Walker and
Kinzig 2006; Gunderson 1999; Olsson et al 2006), and refers to the
emergence of informal networks in response to social and ecological
crises. These networks link key individuals in different sectors and levels of governance. They engage outside the constraints of their separate
organisations, and are able to generate a diversity of innovative ideas and
solutions. Case studies of shadow networks demonstrate their capacity to
exploit windows of opportunity, having developed “a portfolio of possible projects that could be launched whenever there was an opening and
the time was right” (Olsson et al 2006).
Conclusion
Peak oil, combined with other resource and environmental crises, is
bringing about a sea-change in Western liberal-democracies. The trappings of representative democracy remain, but the substance is becoming
post-liberal, authoritarian, and largely controlled by corporate agendas.
This is reflected in the emergence of a post-neoliberal and imperialist
global food regime. Given continuing decline of energy availability,
resource depletion, and increasing severity of climate change impacts,
this emerging order will not be sustainable. As large-scale political and
economic systems become increasingly incapacitated, it may present
opportunities for radical policy innovation and for new forms of democratic governance to evolve. Local food-system planning is one such
innovation. The concepts of insurgent planning and adaptive governance
together suggest many creative and transgressive ways to bring these
changes to fruition.
Bibliography
American Civil Liberties Union. (2011) A Call to Courage: Reclaiming
our Liberties Ten Years after 9/11. New York: American Civil Liberties
Union.