Decision-making frameworks for controversial public decision processes: A comparative analysis with a case study

Abstract

Abstract Earlier approaches and most current practices of project evaluation are still driven mainly by technical and economic concerns and do not incorporate environmental or social issues. Therefore, they have failed to account for sustainability concerns in the evaluation of major projects with environmental impacts. In this paper we develop a comparative analysis of three new decision-making frameworks for the assessment of the sustainability of these projects. We analyse similitudes and differences, regarding their theoretical base, objectives, overarching issues and operational implementation, aiming to reveal the main issues of the evaluation process. We also present a case study, with the critical analysis of the ex-post evaluation process of the Alqueva dam multipurpose project based on the comparative analysis of the methodological frameworks presented. The aim is to illustrate the relevance of these methodologies for the improvement of the evaluation processes vis à vis more traditional practices.