Debating Transition GovernanceGovernance of transition dynamics vs dynamics of transition management

1rst European Conference on Sustainability Transitions“Dynamics and governance of transitions to sustainability”

4-6 June 2008, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Niki Frantzeskaki & Derk Loorbach Erasmus University RotterdamTU Delft

Oxymora of transition governanceNATURE OF TRANSITIONS • Coordinated Emergence• Evolutionary RevolutionGOVERNANCE PHILOSOPHY• Deliberative Steering• Short-term envisioningGOVERNANCE PRACTICE• Selective Participation• Undefined Experiments

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Oxymoron

“An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. What distinguishes them (…) is that they are used intentionally, for rhetoric effect and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept.” DG Research, EU, 2009.

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COORDINATED EMERGENCE

Stimulus-response versus

Emergence as behavioral response of complex adaptive systems

OPP

OSI

TIO

N

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COORDINATED EMERGENCE

Coordination in form of collective discussions (transition arena)

that strive to create the conditions for innovations in niches (emergence)

PRO

POSI

TIO

N

5

EVOLUTIONARY REVOLUTION

Evolution as a process of continuous adaptation, mutation and selection

versusRevolution as a drastic non-directional change

OPP

OSI

TIO

N

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EVOLUTIONARY REVOLUTION

Time scale issue!Short-term incremental changes (evolution)

that on the long-term they yield a fundamental change

of the system (revolution)

7PRO

POSI

TIO

N

DELIBERATIVE STEERING

Deliberative governance as a bottom-up process versus

Steering as top-down processes of governance

OPP

OSI

TIO

N

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DELIBERATIVE STEERINGDifferent direction of intervention

in different phases!Vision & Agenda formation: Bottom-up process

Institutionalization of vision’s elements: Top-down

9PRO

POSI

TIO

N

SHORT-TERM ENVISIONING

Actions versus Visions

Actions as short-term purposeful interventionsvs

Visions as feasible desirable futures

OPP

OSI

TIO

N

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SHORT-TERM ENVISIONING

Action – vision consistency! Short-term actions contemplate long-term vision

11PRO

POSI

TIO

N

SELECTIVE PARTICIPATION

Openness in participation Versus

Selectivity in participation

OPP

OSI

TIO

N

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BROADENING PHASE- Group dynamics act as

selection environment- Selective Participation

SELECTIVE PARTICIPATIONTM TOOL: TRANSITION ARENA

13PRO

POSI

TIO

N

ENVISIONING PHASE- Start with inviting actors

that satisfy the selection criteria

- Open Participation

Transition narrative

Sustainability criteria

Domains for change (transition images)

Arena Group Arena Group

Area of direct influence

SELECTIVE PARTICIPATIONTM TOOL: TRANSITION ARENA

Small group to have large impact (amplifier effect)

14PRO

POSI

TIO

N

Arena Group

Area of direct influence

Area of indirect influence

UNDEFINED EXPERIMENTS

Experiment: test in controlled conditions to test or examine a relation / function

Policy experiments or pilots as tools for evidence about policy effectiveness

OPP

OSI

TIO

N

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UNDEFINED EXPERIMENTS

Transition experiments are multi-functional:Investigation of structure

Develop knowledgeEngage actors

Co-produce new practices

The process of experimenting is critical and not the outcome of the experiment!

16PRO

POSI

TIO

N

TM TOOL: TRANSITION EXPERIMENTS

Debating towards an understanding for governance of transitions

• Communication of transition dynamics and transition management research streams

• Further research on the transition tools and for new transition tools

• Internationalization of transition approach

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