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Themes

Fiction Lab / Theme

Megaproject governance

The distribution of authority, accountability and risk in projects whose consequences are difficult to reverse.

Why it matters

Technical feasibility does not establish legitimacy. Irreversible choices require explicit representation of affected groups and future consequences.

Recurring mechanisms

1

Mandates that expire before consequences arrive

2

Asymmetric exposure to benefit and harm

3

Path dependence created by early technical choices

Discussion prompt

Who is authorised to make a decision that future stakeholders cannot undo?