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Tracing discursive space: Agency and change in sustainability transitions

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  • Pesch, Udo
Abstract
This article argues that a lack of a consistent agency-based approach in theory on sustainability transitions makes it difficult to describe processes of change. To overcome this problem, elements from transition theory will be rearticulated in terms of ‘discursive fields’, which are the bodies of meanings with which actors engage in social action. With that an agency-based conceptual framework is developed with which processes of change related to sustainability transitions can be researched. Discursive fields are subjected to a different degree of ‘fixation’—some discursive fields are more susceptible to change than others. The notion of discursive fixation helps us to develop new insights about the some of the elementary elements of sustainability transitions, such as the establishment of a so-called socio-technological niche, as well as the scaling up of the outcomes of such a niche. Moreover, the approach developed will be used to explore how individual agents can contribute to change processes. These insights give rise to an array of new empirical research in relation to sustainability transitions.

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  • Pesch, Udo, 2015. "Tracing discursive space: Agency and change in sustainability transitions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 90(PB), pages 379-388.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:90:y:2015:i:pb:p:379-388
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2014.05.009
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    6. Attila Havas & Doris Schartinger & K. Matthias Weber, 2022. "Innovation Studies, Social Innovation, and Sustainability Transitions Research: From mutual ignorance towards an integrative perspective?," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2227, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
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    8. Jürges, Nataly, 2016. "Wahrnehmungen und Funktionen in der Transformation zur Bioökonomie: Eine Akteursanalyse im Politikfeld "Boden"," UFZ Discussion Papers 6/2016, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Division of Social Sciences (ÖKUS).
    9. Hermans, Frans & Roep, Dirk & Klerkx, Laurens, 2016. "Scale dynamics of grassroots innovations through parallel pathways of transformative change," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 285-295.
    10. Stefan Schaltegger & Derk Loorbach & Jacob Hörisch, 2023. "Managing entrepreneurial and corporate contributions to sustainability transitions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 891-902, February.
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    13. Kuokkanen, A. & Nurmi, A. & Mikkilä, M. & Kuisma, M. & Kahiluoto, H. & Linnanen, L., 2018. "Agency in regime destabilization through the selection environment: The Finnish food system’s sustainability transition," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(8), pages 1513-1522.
    14. Katariina Koistinen & Satu Teerikangas, 2021. "The Debate If Agents Matter vs. the System Matters in Sustainability Transitions—A Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-32, March.
    15. Holmgren, Sara & Pever, Maris & Fischer, Klara, 2019. "Constructing low-carbon futures? Competing storylines in the Estonian energy sector's translation of EU energy goals," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    16. Michael Halinski & Linda Duxbury, 2020. "Perceiving Agency in Sustainability Transitions: A Case Study of a Police-Hospital Collaboration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-24, October.
    17. Dolinska, Aleksandra & d'Aquino, Patrick, 2016. "Farmers as agents in innovation systems. Empowering farmers for innovation through communities of practice," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 122-130.
    18. Rajesh, R., 2020. "Sustainable supply chains in the Indian context: An integrative decision-making model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

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