IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ids/ijsusd/v15y2012i1-2p37-53.html

Towards theoretical multiplicity for the governance of transitions: the energy-producing greenhouse case

Author

Listed:
  • Catrien J.A.M. Termeer
  • Art Dewulf

Abstract

Transition management has become an important topic in scientific research on sustainable development over the last decade. A recurring question is whether, and if so how, transitions towards sustainability can be governed. In this paper we address this question by theoretically comparing transition management theory with a number of related theories on governing societal change, such as multi-actor collaboration, network governance, policy agenda setting and adaptive management. We illustrate the different approaches by analysing the Dutch transition case of the greenhouse as a source of energy from different theoretical perspectives. We conclude that these theories reveal additional and more varied leadership mechanisms and steering options than the overarching approach of transition management alone. Therefore, we suggest an approach of theoretical multiplicity, arguing that multiple theories need to be applied simultaneously for dealing with the complex societal sustainability issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Catrien J.A.M. Termeer & Art Dewulf, 2012. "Towards theoretical multiplicity for the governance of transitions: the energy-producing greenhouse case," International Journal of Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(1/2), pages 37-53.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijsusd:v:15:y:2012:i:1/2:p:37-53
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44033
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Claudia Pahl-Wostl, 2007. "Transitions towards adaptive management of water facing climate and global change," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(1), pages 49-62, January.
    2. J.B. (Hans) Opschoor, 2009. "Sustainability," Chapters, in: Jan Peil & Irene van Staveren (ed.), Handbook of Economics and Ethics, chapter 69, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lisa-Britt Fischer & Jens Newig, 2016. "Importance of Actors and Agency in Sustainability Transitions: A Systematic Exploration of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Jacqueline M. Cramer, 2020. "The Function of Transition Brokers in the Regional Governance of Implementing Circular Economy—A Comparative Case Study of Six Dutch Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Hamid El Bilali, 2019. "Research on agro-food sustainability transitions: where are food security and nutrition?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(3), pages 559-577, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Arman Canatay & Leonel Prieto & Muhammad Ruhul Amin, 2025. "Navigating the Convergence of Global Competitiveness and Sustainable Development: A Multi-Level Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-39, June.
    2. Chen, Yenming J. & Sheu, Jiuh-Biing & Lirn, Taih-Cherng, 2012. "Fault tolerance modeling for an e-waste recycling supply chain," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(5), pages 897-906.
    3. Joon Sik Kim & Peter W. J. Batey & Yanting Fan & Sheng Zhong, 2021. "Embracing integrated watershed revitalization in Suzhou, China: learning from global case studies," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 565-595, June.
    4. Olivia Gippner & Saroj Dhakal & Benjamin Sovacool, 2013. "Microhydro electrification and climate change adaptation in Nepal: socioeconomic lessons from the Rural Energy Development Program (REDP)," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 407-427, April.
    5. T. D. Pol & S. Gabbert & H.-P. Weikard & E. C. Ierland & E. M. T. Hendrix, 2017. "A Minimax Regret Analysis of Flood Risk Management Strategies Under Climate Change Uncertainty and Emerging Information," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 68(4), pages 1087-1109, December.
    6. Joon Sik Kim & Peter W. J. Batey, 2021. "Integrated watershed revitalization: the experience of the Mersey Basin Campaign," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 531-563, June.
    7. Hamouda, Yasmina Abdellatif, 2012. "Wind energy in Egypt: Economic feasibility for Cairo," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3312-3319.
    8. Wiwandari Handayani & S. P. Dewi & Bintang Septiarani, 2023. "Toward adaptive water governance: An examination on stakeholders engagement and interactions in Semarang City, Indonesia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1914-1943, February.
    9. Masoud Yazdanpanah & Michael Thompson & Dariush Hayati & Gholam Hosein Zamani, 2013. "A new enemy at the gate: Tackling Iran’s water super-crisis by way of a transition from government to governance," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 13(3), pages 177-194, July.
    10. Peter JONES & Daphne COMFORT & David TURNER & David HILLIER, 2013. "Sustainability And The Uk Pub Industry," Management Research and Practice, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 5(3), pages 76-93, September.
    11. G. Raadgever & E. Mostert & N. Giesen, 2012. "Learning from Collaborative Research in Water Management Practice," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(11), pages 3251-3266, September.
    12. J. Doummar & M. Massoud & R. Khoury & M. Khawlie, 2009. "Optimal Water Resources Management: Case of Lower Litani River, Lebanon," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(11), pages 2343-2360, September.
    13. Johannes Behrisch & Mariano Ramirez & Damien Giurco, 2011. "Representation of Ecodesign Practice: International Comparison of Industrial Design Consultancies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(10), pages 1-14, October.
    14. Guo, Dongping & Abliz, Abdugheni & Kong, Yue & Li, Jialin & Liu, Xianhe & Nurahmat, Buasi, 2025. "Investigation of farmers’ awareness of water conservation and its determinants in arid regions: A case study of the Turpan-Hami Basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    15. Alaerts, G.J., 2020. "Adaptive policy implementation: Process and impact of Indonesia’s national irrigation reform 1999–2018," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    16. Ribeiro, Barbara Esteves, 2013. "Beyond commonplace biofuels: Social aspects of ethanol," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 355-362.
    17. Gerardo Benito & Rick Rohde & Mary Seely & Christoph Külls & Ofer Dahan & Yehouda Enzel & Simon Todd & Blanca Botero & Efrat Morin & Tamir Grodek & Carole Roberts, 2010. "Management of Alluvial Aquifers in Two Southern African Ephemeral Rivers: Implications for IWRM," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(4), pages 641-667, March.
    18. Majid Rahimi & Mehdi Ghorbani & Hossein Azadi, 2023. "Structural characteristics of governmental and non-governmental institutions network: case of water governance system in Kor River basin in Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 7029-7045, July.
    19. Abby Lindsay, 2018. "Social learning as an adaptive measure to prepare for climate change impacts on water provision in Peru," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 8(4), pages 477-487, December.
    20. Maurizio Volpe & Carmelo D'Anna & Simona Messineo & Roberto Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2014. "Sustainable Production of Bio-Combustibles from Pyrolysis of Agro-Industrial Wastes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-17, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ids:ijsusd:v:15:y:2012:i:1/2:p:37-53. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sarah Parker (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=25 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.