Managed retreat: transformations in the government of coastal environments in Germany and New Zealand

Abstract

Managed retreat is a new form of coastal management that involves the removal of defense structures and human usages away from coastal hazards due to sea level rise, erosion and climate change. In this dissertation I use in-depth interviews and build on state theory and governmentality in order to understand how state institutions use expert knowledge in order to frame and deal with coastal erosion. Two case studies are use in Germany and New Zealand.