A strategic approach to risk governance of critical infrastructures

This paper discusses governance as a promising approach for dealing with the risks of infrastructures, and specifically with reference to the European situation. The liberalisation and the unbundling of the institutional and market arrangements and the pervasive application of information and communication technologies have increased the interconnectivity among systems and nations, making risks to infrastructures more pressing and crucial for society. While infrastructural risks were traditionally managed by rather isolated monopolies and regulated by single governments, the present situation requires collective efforts by the concerned actors. The paper introduces the concept of governance, discusses the principles of "good governance" and evaluates its potential application to the handling of the risks of infrastructures.