Strategy for collectives and common goods Coordinating strategy, long-term perspectives and policy domains in governance

Abstract We investigate the nature and potential of strategy in governance and emphasize the importance of understanding strategy in its (potential) relations to long-term perspectives or narratives about the long term. Strategy is understood as both a narrative and an institution itself. Narratives about the long term, both inside and outside the sphere of governance, have to be mapped and acknowledged. This can inspire, in strategy formulation, a link to such existing perspectives or the production of a new one. Such strategy ought to be persuasive enough to coordinate action and create reality effects. We focus on strategy which aims to guide complex governance configurations associated with a set of actors, institutions and collective goals. The double nature of governance strategy enables it to coordinate other institutions and narratives, and from there, to coordinate, even integrate policy domains. That might be a sine qua non for dealing with long-term threats and the pursuit of public goods. The longest term might be the most relevant yet the least knowable and the most difficult to steer towards with existing governance tools. Nonetheless, evolving strategy, evolving assessment of linkages to long-term perspectives and possible forms of policy integration might be our best way forward.