The role and capacity of the state are changing. Some researchers argue that the state is transforming, strategically adapting to new circumstances, while others see a development of governing arrangements that are autonomous from the state, governing ‘ without ’ government. This article assesses the governing without government thesis through the case of forest certifi cation introduced in Sweden in the late 1990s. This is a case of private governance, the governing capacity of which is based on voluntary self-regulation rather than government authority, seemingly a prime example of governing without government. The results show that government nonetheless is involved with forest certifi cation through governance-oriented modes of governing: enabling and infl uencing the arrangements. Thus, what appeared to be a prime example of governing ‘ without ’ government is better understood as governing ‘ with ’ government.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
Public Administration, 87(2): 312–326

Region
Europe

Biome
Boreal, Temperate

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)

Primary Designated Function
All