New Authorities: Relating State and Non-State Security Auspices in South African Improvement Districts

Abstract

Drawing on the work of the Ostroms (Ostrom, 1987; Ostrom, 1991; Ostrom, 1999a; Ostrom, 1999b; Ostrom, 2001; Ostrom, 2005) and utilising a nodal analysis, research was conducted on an experiment in polycentric governance – that is Improvement Districts in South Africa. The research sought to explore the practices and implications, for security provision or policing, of collaborative governance arrangements with multiple authorities.