Sustainability transitions from the bottom-up:Civil society, the multi-level perspective and practice theory

Hargreaves, Tom ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3764-7364, Haxeltine, Alex, Longhurst, Noel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1630-0150 and Seyfang, Gill ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4696-0798 (2011) Sustainability transitions from the bottom-up:Civil society, the multi-level perspective and practice theory. pp. 1-26.

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Abstract

This paper aims to build on an emerging trend in sustainability transitions research towards better understanding the potential roles played by civil society groups in transitions alongside state and market actors. Through the use of two empirical examples (a local and organic food producer cooperative called 'Eostre Organics' in East Anglia, UK, and the pro-environmental behaviour change programme 'EcoTeams'), the paper argues that whilst the Multi-Level Perspective on sustainability transitions is a valuable analytical tool to help conceptualise and distinguish between different kinds of civil society activity, its focus on single regimes and on novelty rather than normality means it cannot adequately capture the range or scope of civil society action. Here, we suggest that recent developments in Social Practice Theory, which explicitly address these concerns, offer a way to broaden and improve analyses. This leads us to reexamine a framework originally presented by Elizabeth Shove which draws attention to the connections and crossovers between these two theoretical approaches. The paper closes by exploring the gaps, limitations and implications of this framework for future research on the role of civil society groups in sustainability transitions.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: civil society,social practice theory,sustainability transitions,the multi-level perspective,global and planetary change,geography, planning and development,aerospace engineering,management, monitoring, policy and law,earth and planetary sciences(all) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2306
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Science, Society and Sustainability
University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Social Sciences
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 02 May 2020 00:00
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2023 05:15
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/74953
DOI:

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