Non-seeing, Non-thinking and Non-learning in Governance

Kristof Van Assche is a Professor at the University of Alberta, Canada and Visiting Professor at the University of the Free State, South Africa.Monica Gruezmacher is an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Alberta and an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Policy Institute at Memorial University, Canada.

• List of FiguresPreface1. Governance as a setting and a goal2. Observing and thinking in governance 3. Learning in governance4. Learning, dark learning and non-learning5. Non-observation: reasons and mechanisms6. Non-thinking: reasons and mechanisms7. Non-learning: reasons and mechanisms8. Reconsidering the relation between thinking and organizing9. The return of the unobserved?Epilogue: The power of negatives and the positive transformation of governanceIndex

'Why do governance systems fail to see, think, and learn? In this bold and thought-provoking book, Van Assche and Gruezmacher uncover the hidden forces shaping decision-making—what is ignored, dismissed, or simply unseen. Through a masterful blend of governance theory, psychology, and critical analysis, they reveal how blind spots, selective inattention, and institutional inertia create governance failures and sustainability crises. Packed with fresh insights and real-world relevance, this book is a must-read for policymakers, scholars, and changemakers eager to rethink governance for a more adaptive, responsive, and sustainable future.’