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Sustainability Transitions and the Spatial Interface: Developing Conceptual Perspectives

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  • Meike Levin-Keitel

    (Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany
    Research Center TRUST—Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Transformation, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany)

  • Tanja Mölders

    (Research Center TRUST—Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Transformation, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany
    Forum for GenderCompetence of Architecture|Landscape|Planning (gender_archland), Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany)

  • Frank Othengrafen

    (Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany
    Research Center TRUST—Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Transformation, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany)

  • Jens Ibendorf

    (Research Center TRUST—Transdisciplinary Rural and Urban Transformation, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany)

Abstract

Sustainability transitions research lacks a crucial perspective: the spatial dimension. The interrelations between space and sustainability transition processes are thus underexposed. The spatial dimension is, of course, implicitly addressed in transition research but it often remains unclear which spatial concept is used and how the spatial conditions are embedded in the transition processes. This paper approaches the problem in two steps: (1) analysing the various understandings of transitions research and their implications for different spatial concepts relating to spatial sustainability transition; and (2) focusing on different spatial concepts (from a positivist mode to relational and socio-cultural approaches) and their reflections in different disciplines of social, natural and technical sciences as well as in practice. By identifying the links between sustainable transition approaches on the one hand and spatial conceptualizations on the other hand, this paper aims at deepening both the spatial perspective and the understanding of sustainable transition research. The results of this paper are three conceptual perspectives wherein space or spatial conceptualizations can provide added value for sustainability transition research in inter- and transdisciplinary modes. These three perspectives include (1) space as a “bridging concept,” (2) space as a “normative concept,” and (3) space as an “approach to action.”

Suggested Citation

  • Meike Levin-Keitel & Tanja Mölders & Frank Othengrafen & Jens Ibendorf, 2018. "Sustainability Transitions and the Spatial Interface: Developing Conceptual Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:1880-:d:150717
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    Cited by:

    1. Held, Martin, 2022. "Spatial transformation: An introduction to the Great Transformation towards sustainability," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Spatial transformation: Processes, strategies, research design, volume 19, pages 27-49, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    2. Ryan D. Bergstrom & Lisa M.B. Harrington, 2019. "Embedded in Nature: Challenges to Sustainability in Communities of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Schaefer, Kerstin J. & Tuitjer, Leonie & Levin-Keitel, Meike, 2021. "Transport disrupted – Substituting public transport by bike or car under Covid 19," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 202-217.
    4. Larjosto, Vilja, 2022. "Research through Design as a transformative approach," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Spatial transformation: Processes, strategies, research design, volume 19, pages 201-208, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    5. Held, Martin, 2019. "Räumliche Transformation: Eine Einführung in die Große Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Abassiharofteh, Milad & Baier, Jessica & Göb, Angelina & Thimm, Insa & Eberth, Andreas & Knaps, Falc (ed.), Räumliche Transformation: Prozesse, Konzepte, Forschungsdesigns, volume 10, pages 29-52, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    6. Engbers, Moritz, 2022. "Understanding and shaping spatial transformation processes through transdisciplinary case studies," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Spatial transformation: Processes, strategies, research design, volume 19, pages 191-200, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    7. Sibylle Bui, 2021. "Enacting Transitions—The Combined Effect of Multiple Niches in Whole System Reconfiguration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Knaps, Falco & Herrmann, Sylvia & Mölders, Tanja, 2019. "Landschaftsbezogene Identität: Ansätze zur Konzeptualisierung, Erfassung und Integration in Place Branding-Prozesse," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Abassiharofteh, Milad & Baier, Jessica & Göb, Angelina & Thimm, Insa & Eberth, Andreas & Knaps, Falc (ed.), Räumliche Transformation: Prozesse, Konzepte, Forschungsdesigns, volume 10, pages 177-192, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    9. Carlos Bueno-Suárez & Daniel Coq-Huelva, 2020. "Sustaining What Is Unsustainable: A Review of Urban Sprawl and Urban Socio-Environmental Policies in North America and Western Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-36, May.
    10. Larjosto, Vilja, 2019. "Research through Design as a transformative approach," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Abassiharofteh, Milad & Baier, Jessica & Göb, Angelina & Thimm, Insa & Eberth, Andreas & Knaps, Falc (ed.), Räumliche Transformation: Prozesse, Konzepte, Forschungsdesigns, volume 10, pages 217-225, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    11. Knaps, Falco & Herrmann, Sylvia & Mölders, Tanja, 2022. "Landscape identity: Approaches to its conceptualisation, capture and integration into place branding processes," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Spatial transformation: Processes, strategies, research design, volume 19, pages 164-178, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    12. Giles Thomson & Henrik Ny & Varvara Nikulina & Sven Borén & James Ayers & Jayne Bryant, 2020. "‘Rapid Scenario Planning’ to Support a Regional Sustainability Transformation Vision: A Case Study from Blekinge, Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-26, August.
    13. Engbers, Moritz, 2019. "Räumliche Transformationsprozesse durch transdisziplinäre Fallstudien verstehen und gestalten," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Abassiharofteh, Milad & Baier, Jessica & Göb, Angelina & Thimm, Insa & Eberth, Andreas & Knaps, Falc (ed.), Räumliche Transformation: Prozesse, Konzepte, Forschungsdesigns, volume 10, pages 206-216, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    14. Vojkan Jovičić & Boštjan Volk & Janko Logar, 2018. "Conditions for the Sustainable Development of Underground Transport in the Ljubljana Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, August.
    15. Frank Othengrafen & Meike Levin-Keitel, 2019. "Planners between the Chairs: How Planners (Do Not) Adapt to Transformative Practices," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(4), pages 111-138.

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