Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy (Dec 2007)
Editorial: Governance for sustainability
Abstract
The concepts of transition and transition management are an inspiring basis for debate and action between scholars and different scientific disciplines. They also offer a fruitful context for cooperation and debate among scientists, policy makers, and business managers. As an analytical concept, it stimulates interdisciplinary analysis and offers a framework within which to discuss similarities, contradictions, and the relative value of various disciplines in contributing to different problems. In the Netherlands a broad transition research network exists, including economists, historians, political scientists, technology and innovation experts and consumption researchers that each focus on particular aspects of transitions at different levels. The possibilities for this area of activity to contribute to substantial methodological advances appear to be parallel to its opportunities to enrich social and policy practices. As a governance approach, the concepts of transition and transition management are being used to facilitate cooperation and coproduction between science and policy, as well as for the development and use of new scientific methods. New coalitions, strategies, and experiments involving pioneering scientists, “courageous political leaders, enlightened business executives and civil society at large” have been launched in its wake. This, in essence, is the definition of transition management as governance for sustainability: a collective process of learning-by-doing and doing-by learning based on an integrative way of thinking. Not to achieve fixed goals, but to gradually work towards shared ambitions through innovation, integration and transition. And the beauty is, that everyone can contribute in his or her own way.
