(Dit rapport en deze publicatie zijn in het Engels)
In the 2024 Transformative Change Assessment of IPBES (often described as the IPCC of biodiversity), pluralism is identified as one of the key guiding principles. But what exactly is pluralism, why does it matter for transformative change, and how can it be put into practice?
In a recent review paper in Ecosystems and People, DRIFTer Mara de Pater defines pluralism as “a normative stance that values the existence of diversity”. Applied to transformative governance, this means:
“The recognition and legitimization of diverse ways of being, knowing, perceiving and relating to the world, as held by both human and other-than-human actors. It involves incorporating these into decision-making and collective action through thoughtful consideration and representation.”
The review argues for a broad view of plurality –one that goes beyond interests or values alone. Instead, it highlights the importance of attending to diverse human–nature relations, knowledge systems, value orientations, and future imaginaries.
When applied to transformative efforts, pluralism can help to:
- Disrupt business-as-usual approaches
- Empower marginalized actors (both human and other-than-human)
- Co-create novel strategies and solutions
- Enhance capacities to navigate complexity and uncertainty
However, pluralism is not a silver bullet. It will not instantly render actions transformative. Rather, it is one important, but demanding, piece of the broader puzzle. Pluralistic approaches can create tensions and trade-offs with other characteristics of transformative governance and action. For example, opening processes to many different realities and perspectives may become overwhelming, leading to paralysis. There is also the risk that already dominant perspectives in mainstream debates and institutions end up reinforcing their influence within transformative initiatives.
As Mara de Pater argues, pluralism holds significant value, but it must be applied thoughtfully and in balance with other transformative principles and aims.
Read the full article here: Functions and dimensions of pluralism in transformative governance for biodiversity: a review — https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2025.2587965
