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Axes of contestation in sustainability transitions

Abstract

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.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Digital / Technology Management
  • University of Copenhagen
  • Lund University
  • Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Year

2022

Published in

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions

ISSN

2210-4224

Volume

45

Page(s)

246 - 269

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository