Knowledge base about transformations and transitions
In this project funded by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the knowledge base about societal transformations and sociotechnical transitions is described by experts in those fields. This is done through the production of five background papers that approach the themes of systemic ‘transformations’ and ‘transitions’ from a range of academic perspectives, explaining the core concepts and describing the transdisciplinary knowledge, governance approaches and competencies that are needed to effect systemic change.
Project objectives
The motivation for the development of these background reports is the recognition that the complexity and dynamism of the literature on sustainability transitions and transformation makes it hard for non-experts (and even experts) to fully comprehend. Therefore, this publication should create real value by drawing together the different (academic) perspectives on these issues and explain how they fit together, in language that policymakers across Europe can understand and use. It also serves as an input into future work of EEA about systemic change for sustainable development.
The five background papers are:
- Transformations in socio-ecological systems
- Transitions in socio-technical systems
- Transforming socio-economic systems
- Bottom-up approaches to societal change
- Quantitative systems modelling approaches to analysing systemic change
ICIS is responsible for the paper on transformations in socio-economic systems. The report will cover the following topics: a discussion of the Great Transformation of marketization and social protection as a double movement (Polanyi), the different stages of capitalism, the role of finance (especially the rise of financial capitalism and alternative currencies), the transformation of work, the socio-pathology of materialism, top-down attempts to manage a sustainable transition, transdisiciplinary science and sustainability science (as forms of transformative science), and the alternative economy based on autonomy, cooperation and inclusion.