Beyond Collaboration: Mutual Dependence and Power Imbalance in Addressing Grand Challenges

While research on grand challenges often emphasizes collaboration as the dominant mode of engagement, inter-organizational relationships are frequently marked by power imbalance and mutual dependence. In this theoretical paper, we examine how actors who depend on each other to address grand challenges manage power imbalance in their relations, identifying four types of power configurations when addressing grand challenges: benevolence, authoritarianism, contention, and collaboration. We offer propositions regarding how each power configuration influences the mitigation of grand challenges drawing from examples from addressing climate issues, biodiversity collapse and development. The paper also provides insights on the dynamics whereby power configurations shift from one type to another. Our framework provides insights for research on grand challenges and power dependence.