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Several of the preceding contributions to this special issue have raised critical comments and questions on the concept and research agenda of ecological modernization. It is our impression that these comments not only reflect academic ingenuity, but also a broader and growing hesitation about the concept and its usefulness, as similar scepticism was also expressed by participants at the international workshop on ecological modernization in Helsinki. As the term ecological modernization has grown popular among leading politicians and policy-makers, so has the dilution of it. In this paper, we make an attempt to move away from the purely heuristic use of ecological modernization, by clarifying both its origins and meanings. For connoisseurs of the concept, our paper may be seen as a recapitulation, rather than as an innovation; our mission is not to reinvent a concept, but to clarify its origins and connected dilemmas. In essence, ecological modernization refers to a specific type of foresighted and preventive environmental policy, which is closely related to the precautionary principle and, therefore, involves long-term structural change of the patterns of production and consumption. The agenda for ecological modernization, and for an associated ecological tax reform, was promoted by scientists outside of the economics profession, but helped breathe new life into the dormant discipline of environmental economics. In recent years, much of the debate on the opportunities of ecological modernization have been 'captured' by economists, who tend to perceive it in the vein of conventional efficiency measures. In view of the serious environmental problems facing the global community in the 21st century, ecological modernization as a concept, in our opinion, only makes sense if reserved for a reference to more radical structural changes that promote ecological consistency rather than ordinary efficiency. Copyright

With present-day scientific evidence challenging the efficiency of artificial aeration as an effective restoration method for eutrophicated lakes, our sociohistorical investigation traces the reasons for the persistent support for this method in Finland, where about one hundred lakes are subject to this treatment. Our study employed the concepts of technological path and aeration frame to analyze the extensive restoration and aeration history of the hypertrophic Tuusulanjärvi in southern Finland. Continuously aerated since 1972, it has the longest history of aeration in Finland. Qualitative analysis of documentary and archival sources revealed that the longstanding preference for aeration in the context of increasing scientific controversy was based on its functional versatility and seemingly unproblematic applicability in regard to shifting emphasis and goal setting of restoration. Additionally, the stability of the aeration frame has been supported by the practical and emotional attachment of local residents to lake restoration, particularly aeration, and finally the problems and contradicting interests related to alternative restoration methods.

The history and future of the restoration efforts at the hypereutrophic southern Finnish lake, Tuusulanjärvi, are investigated. The interdisciplinary study is conducted within a modified DPSIRframework, which allows us to both trace back and envision the future of the dynamics of the complex socio-ecological processes involved in restoration. The study covers the time period from the early 1970s up to 2030. The longitudinal study integrates environmental historical, limnological, and futures studies. The analyses reveal the multiple time scales of social and ecological processes present in long term restoration, the changing perceptions of and emphasis on restoration goals and outcomes over time, and the challenges that incidental and uncertain parameters, such as weather conditions, pose to sustainable and efficient restoration endeavors.