Implementing transition management as policy reforms: a case study of the Dutch energy sector

Abstract

Sustainability, Public policy, Netherlands, Energy policy, Transition management, Policy mixes ,

Going Beyond Instrument Interactions: Towards a More Comprehensive Policy Mix Conceptualization for Environmental Technological Change

“…Terms belonging to the latter group represent well-established ex-ante and expost assessment criteria applied in impact assessments and evaluations of single policy instruments, such as effectiveness, efficiency, equity or feasibility (del Rio et al 2012;IRENA 2012). In contrast, the former group comprises terms specifically used for characterizing the policy mix, such as consistency, coherence, credibility, stability or comprehensiveness (Foxon, Pearson 2008;Howlett, Rayner 2007;Kern, Howlett 2009;Majone 1997;Matthes 2010). These characteristics may impact the performance of a policy mix in terms of the standard assessment criteria, particularly regarding effectiveness and efficiency.…”

“…Three general features emerge from these definitions: First, they typically include the ultimate objective(s) of the policy mix, either in an abstract form (Kern, Howlett 2009) or more typically as a specific objective of a certain policy field, such as innovation (Boekholt 2010;Guy et al 2009;Nauwelaers et al 2009) or biodiversity (Ring, Schröter-Schlaack 2011). Second, interaction is a central feature of the existing policy mix definitions (Boekholt 2010;de Heide 2011;Nauwelaers et al 2009).…”

“…It has been studied most extensively in the climate and energy fields, where the focus is often on its influence on the effectiveness and efficiency of instruments in the mix (del Río González 2009a;IEA 2011b;Sorrell et al 2003). Third, some of the definitions point to the dynamic nature of the policy mix, referring to it as having "evolved" (Ring, Schröter-Schlaack 2011) and "developed incrementally over many years" (Kern, Howlett 2009). This reflects that instruments and their meanings may change over time, causing interactions between them to change (IEA 2011b;Sorrell et al 2003).…”

Performative policy studies: realizing “transition management”

“…Academic observers debated whether the model of transition management was successful in replacing the entrenched "neoliberal market model" that was prevalent in Dutch energy policy (Kern and Smith 2008, Kern and Howlett 2009, Smith and Kern 2009). Yet, in some respects the model had clearly contributed to a reconfiguration of innovation policy in The Netherlands.…”

“…Some particular points of critique were: (1) a managerial approach of establishing a new social order that is implicit in transition management, ignoring a diversity of publicly relevant views, values and concerns , (2) the simplicity and selectivity of the general framing of socio-technical change and sustainability that underlie the model of transition management (Smith et al 2005, Smith and Stirling 2007, Smith and Stirling 2010, (3) a democratic deficit in conceptualising and conducting the policy (Hendriks and Grin 2007, Hendriks 2008, Hendriks 2009), (4) naivety with respect to the politics of learning and experimenting for socio-technical change (Meadowcroft 2005, Meadowcroft 2007, Meadowcroft 2009, Smith and Stirling 2010, Voß and Bornemann 2011) and a neglect of political dynamics that interfere with the process of policy design and implementation (Kern and Smith 2008, Kern and Howlett 2009, Voß et al 2009, and (5), especially with regard to the Dutch energy transition, a widespread critical assessment referring to capture by incumbent industrial interests and a competing neoliberal discourse coalition Smith 2008, Smith and). …”