Transition studies – The MLP as a historical-evolutionary perspective

What are pros and cons of the MLP?

• Pros

  • Systemic thinking

  • Long term perspective

  • … good for social / historical point of view e.g.

• Cons

  • Perspective on anticipated future is tricky

  • Daily life practices

How are ways to a sustainable society discussed in transition studies?

• Controlled / top-down approach

  • Regulations on products, … e.g.

• Market- oriented approach --> consumers-choice

  • Price / Benefit / Value

• => Both strategies are not sufficient

• Need of move from government to governance
  --> transparent public-private network
  --> hierarchic structures <> decentralized / horizontal structures
  --> inclusive decision finding processes

Transition policy and governance – what is the transitional approach?

• Nor top-down or market oriented

• Transition --> long-term process

• Radical change in incremental steps (incremental = step by step)

Transition policy and governance – what is transition-governance?

• Combination of methods to accelerate transition – steered in a sustainable direction

Transition policy and governance – what is transition-management (TM)?

• Structural, long-term change

• Sustainable development as a goal

• Systemic complexity (--> like MLP)

• --> Methodology to initiate change

Which are the 4 activity clusters in TM?

• Starting a transition arena (--> program / plan)

• Vision / agenda / pathways

• Transition-experiments

• Monitoring / evaluating

What is the first activity cluster in TM (explain)?

What is the first activity cluster in TM (explain)?

• Starting a transition arena --> program / plan

  • Medium sized network (15-20 ppl) --> supported by political actors / regime players

  • Defined key actors

  • Collective problem framing

  • Goal (of TM Arena): new coalitions – network building

• => (Step two: Look at future / Vision --> turned to transition pathways)

What is the second activity cluster in TM (explain)?

• Vision / agenda / pathways

  • Conceptual transition … status quo --> future conditions

  • Visions = Ambitions

  • Pathways = Long term vision --> short term actions

  • Agenda = action plan to improve a systems sustainability

  • … how it should be --> how it can be done

    • E.g., use of sustainable materials (quality standards)

What is the third activity cluster in TM (explain)?

• Transition-experiments

  • Theory --> practice

  • High-risk experiments with social learning objective

  • Contribution to sustainability goals

  • Based on pathways

  • … more participatory setup

What is the fourth activity cluster in TM (explain)?

What is the fourth activity cluster in TM (explain)?

• Monitoring / evaluating

  • (+) networking

  • (+) knowledge development

  • (-) no impact on larger scale (related policy domains)
    --> Missing links to spatial planning e.g., how to involve other actors

  • (-) few take initiative
    --> Many actors involved but few want to take the lead … responsibilities

What are upsides and downsides of the MLP and TM (compared)?

What are upsides and downsides of the MLP and TM (compared)?

• (! – difference between MLP and TM) --> which tool for which case, … --> exploratory/analysing <> pro active

• BOTH are most well-known transition approaches

• TM focuses on steering transitions (in a sustainable direction)

• TM has a strong theoretical base but is still a methodology

• … MLP can be used to look back and built foundation for TM

• … Link to collective form of activism and consumption, petitions / political action