Transitions to Sustainable Development: New Directions in the Study of Long Term Transformative Change (Routledge Studies in Sustainability Transitions)

"Over the past few decades, there has been a growing concern about the social and environmental risks which have come along with the progress achieved through a variety of mutually intertwined modernization processes. In recent years these concerns are transformed into a widely-shared sense of urgency, partly due to events such as the various pandemics threatening livestock, and increasing awareness of the risks and realities of climate change, and the energy and food crises. This sense of urgency includes an awareness that our entire social system is in need of fundamental transformation. But like the earlier transition between the 1750's and 1890's from a pre-modern to a modern industrial society, this second transition is also a contested one. Sustainable development is only one of many options. This book addresses the issue on how to understand the dynamics and governance of the second transition dynamics in order to ensure sustainable development. It will be necessary reading for students and scholars with an interest in sustainable development and long-term transformative change." -- BOOK PUBLISHER WEBSITE Book Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Figures 10 Tables 12 Textboxes 14 Foreword 16 Preface 18 Introduction: From Persistent Problems to System Innovations and Transitions 22 Part I The Dynamics of Transitions A: Socio-Technical Perspective 30 I.1 Introduction: Exploration of the Research Topic 32 I.2 A Multi-Level Perspective on Transitions 39 I.3 Theoretical Backgrounds: Science and Technology Studies, Evolutionary Economics and Sociology 50 I.4 A Typology of Transition Pathways 75 I.5 Managing Sustainable Innovation Journeys 101 I.6 Reflections: Process Theory, Causality and Narrative Explanation 114 Part II Towards a Better Understanding of Transitions and Their Governance: A Systemic and Reflexive Approach 124 II.1 Introduction 126 II.2 A Complex Integrated Systems Perspective 135 II.3 Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Transitions 147 II.4 Research into the Governance of Transitions: A Framework for Transition Management 161 II.5 Case Study I: Parkstad Limburg: Regional Transition Management 182 II.6 Case Study II: The Dutch Energy Transition 201 II.7 Self-Evaluation of the Development and Prospects of Transition Management 220 Part III Understanding Transitions from a Governance Perspective 242 III.1 Introduction 244 III.2 Contemporary Processes of Institutional Change 258 III.3 Modernization Processes in Dutch Agriculture, 1886 to the Present 270 III.4 The Governance of Transitions: An Agency Perspective 286 III.5 Modernization as Multilevel Dynamics: Lessons from Dutch Agriculture 306 III.6 Governance of Transitions An Analytical Perspective 336 Conclusion: How to Understand Transitions? How to Infl uence Them?: Synthesis and Lessons for Further Research 341 Notes 360 References 366 About the Authors 400 Index 404 Introduction : From Persistent Problems To System Innovations And Transitions / John Grin, Jan Rotmans And Johan Schot -- Pt. I : Dynamics Of Transitions : A Socio-technical Perspective / Frank W. Geels And Johan Schot -- Pt. Ii : Towards A Better Understanding Of Transitions And Their Governance : A Systemic And Reflexive Approach / Jan Rotmans And Derk Loorbach -- Pt. Iii : Understanding Transitions From A Governance Perspective / John Grin. By John Grin, Jan Rotmans And Johan Schot ; In Collaboration With Frank Geels And Derk Loorbach. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. There has been a growing concern about the social and environmental risks which have come along with the progress achieved through a variety of mutually intertwined modernization processes. This book addresses how to understand the dynamics and governance of long term transformative change towards sustainable development