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Exploring the Contribution of Grassroots Innovations to Justice: Using the Capability Approach to Normatively Address Bottom-Up Sustainable Transitions Practices

Author

Listed:
  • Sergio Belda-Miquel

    (Departament de Comercialització i Investigació de Mercats, Universitat de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Victoria Pellicer-Sifres

    (Institute INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Universitat Politècnica de València and Las Naves (Ajuntament de València), 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Alejandra Boni

    (Institute INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

There is growing interest in the potential of grassroots innovations for the transition towards more just and sustainable societies. Nevertheless, there is lack of clear normative discussion regarding these processes. The paper strives to propose and test a framework that enables an analysis of how and in which sense specific grassroots innovation processes may be contributing to the construction of more just societies. To this end, we connect elements of the multi-level perspective on sociotechnical transitions (frequently used in the analysis of grassroots innovations) with elements of the capability approach, which offers a multi-dimensional perspective to justice. The framework is used to address two purposively selected empirical cases in two key sectors in Spain: an energy cooperative and a food purchasing group. We draw on the information of 25 individual interviews with members of these two cases, on observation, and on secondary sources. Information was processed by means of a qualitative content analysis. We draw on predefined categories from the framework, which was refined during the analysis. The paper illustrates that grassroots innovations may be contributing to justice in several aspects: they expand capabilities in different dimensions, improve public reasoning processes, and create better structural conditions for human flourishing. Nevertheless, these processes are not free of tensions and contradictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergio Belda-Miquel & Victoria Pellicer-Sifres & Alejandra Boni, 2020. "Exploring the Contribution of Grassroots Innovations to Justice: Using the Capability Approach to Normatively Address Bottom-Up Sustainable Transitions Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3617-:d:352386
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Annemarieke Bruin & Imke J.M. Boer & Niels R. Faber & Gjalt Jong & Katrien J.A.M. Termeer & Evelien M. Olde, 2024. "Easier said than defined? Conceptualising justice in food system transitions," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(1), pages 345-362, March.
    2. Diana Velasco & Alejandra Boni & Carlos Delgado & Geisler Dayani Rojas-Forero, 2021. "Exploring the Role of a Colombian University to Promote Just Transitions. An Analysis from the Human Development and the Regional Transition Pathways to Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Clara Medina-García & Rosa de la Fuente & Pieter Van den Broeck, 2021. "Exploring the Emergence of Innovative Multi-Actor Collaborations toward a Progressive Urban Regime in Madrid (2015–2019)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, January.
    4. María-José Prados & Marta Pallarès-Blanch & Ramón García-Marín & Carolina del Valle, 2021. "Renewable Energy Plants and Business Models: A New Rural Development Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Léa Weimann & Edda Weimann, 2022. "On the Road to Net Zero Health Care Systems: Governance for Sustainable Health Care in the United Kingdom and Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-27, September.
    6. Friederike Elsner & Christian Herzig & Patrizia Pugliese & Hamid El Bilali & Lea Ellen Matthiessen & Rita Góralska-Walczak & Youssef Aboussaleh & Cesare Zanasi & Carola Strassner, 2025. "Agri-food related social innovations in sustainability transitions: a multiple case study of initiatives across Europe and Northern Africa engaged in change," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(3), pages 1895-1918, September.
    7. Munir Majdalawieh & Shafaq Khan, 2022. "Building an Integrated Digital Transformation System Framework: A Design Science Research, the Case of FedUni," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.

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