Axes of contestation in sustainability transitions

Summary, in English

Research in sustainability transitions increasingly acknowledges that the structural characteristics of socio-technical systems differ. However, little attention has been paid to the specific transition dynamics that can result from this structural variation. In response, this paper develops a framework for studying transition dynamics that takes the structural characteristics of socio-technical systems and their influence on agency into account. We introduce the concept contestation axis to highlight alternative potential interfaces between functional solutions in a socio-technical system. We argue that considerable agency and frictions between actors can play out at other axes than between established regimes and emerging niches. Our conceptual framework is applied to a case study in the waste sector. We explore how the growing influence of the circular economy triggers misalignment between multiple socio-technical configurations in the Danish waste sector. In the case, we zoom in on three actual frictions that have manifested along different contestation axes.

• Author: Stine Madsen; Johan Miörner; Teis Hansen
• Department/s: Department of Human Geography; CIRCLE
• Publishing year: 2022-12
• Language: English
• Pages: 246-269
• Publication/Series: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
• Volume: 45
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.11.001
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
• Keywords: Agency; Contestation axis; Socio-technical configurations; Socio-technical system; Waste management
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2210-4224