摘要：Adaptive governance can be conceptualized as distinct phases of: 1) understandingenvironmental change; 2) using this understanding to inform decision making; and 3) acting on decisionsin a manner that sustains resilience of desirable system states. Using this analytical framework, we exploregovernance in practice in two case studies in Kenya, that reflect the "messiness" of contemporary coastalgovernance in many developing country contexts. Findings suggest that adaptive marine governance isunlikely to be a smooth process of learning, knowledge sharing, and responding. There are institutional,sociocultural, and political factors, past and present, that influence each phase of both local and statedecision making. New local institutions related to fisher associations and Beach Management Unitsinfluence learning and knowledge sharing in ways contrary to those expected of institutions that enablecollaborative fisheries management. Similarly, state decision making is relatively uninformed by the diverseknowledge systems available in the coastal zone, despite the rhetoric of participation. Historical relationsand modes of working continue to play a significant role in mediating the potential for adaptive governancein the future. The case studies are illustrative and point to a number of institutional and political issues thatwould need to be addressed in processes of governance reform towards more adaptive management indeveloping country contexts
