Structuring complexity for tailoring research contributions to sustainable development: a framework

Abstract

Research aiming at generating effective contributions to sustainable development faces particular complexity related challenges. This article proposes an analytical framework disentangling and structuring complexity issues with which research for sustainable development is confronted. Based on theoretical conceptions from fields like policy sciences and transdisciplinary research as well as on an in-depth analysis of the concept of sustainable development, three meta-perspectives on research for sustainable development are introduced and elaborated. The first perspective focuses on notions of sustainable development, sorting out the problem of unclear or ambiguous interpretations of the general sustainability objectives in specific contexts. The second perspective introduces a broad conception of the policy process representing the way societal change towards sustainable development is brought about. It supports identifying those academic and non-academic actors and stakeholders that are relevant for coming up with effective knowledge contributions. The third perspective identifies different forms of knowledge that are needed to tackle sustainability problems as well as the significance of their mutual interrelations. How the framework perspectives support reflecting on the fundamental complexity issues research for sustainable development is confronted with is illustrated using a case example from natural scientific research in the field of land use. We argue that meeting the complexity inherent in the concept of sustainable development requires joint learning in policy processes, working out shared visions being in line with the core objectives of sustainable development and generating knowledge about empirical, normative and pragmatic aspects.

Enabling Effective Problem-oriented Research for Sustainable Development

“…As a consequence, many management decisions are taken without using available scientific evidence, as has been shown for decision making in nature conservation management , Shanley and López 2009, Cook et al 2010) and health technology transfer (Simiyu et al 2010). The challenge for scientists, therefore, is to frame both knowledge and the processes of generating and interpreting knowledge to provide answers to the questions that are relevant to decision makers (Hirsch 1995, Eigenbrode et al 2007, McNie 2007, Wuelser et al 2012.…”

“…In sustainability research, problem orientation means the quest to formulate research questions that are most likely to provide the answers that actors need (Gibbons et al 1994, Hirsch 1995, Brewer 1999, Kueffer and Hirsch Hadorn 2008. Thus, the problem to be solved determines the appropriate conceptual framework, which should include goal definition, an understanding of relevant societal processes, appropriate methods, and appropriate forms of partnership (Pohl et al 2010, Wuelser et al 2012). This approach is in marked contrast to that of most discipline-based inquiry, in which the questions or hypotheses usually emerge from a particular theoretical framework.…”

“…We draw not only upon the experiences and expertise of the workshop participants, but also upon a rapidly growing literature about the relationships between science and society, and the potential of new modes of research to improve realworld problem solving (Nowotny et al 2001, Scholz and Tietje 2002, Cash et al 2003, Bammer 2005, COSEPUP 2005, Eigenbrode et al 2007, Kueffer et al 2007, Frodeman et al 2010, Groffman 2010, Wuelser et al 2012, as well as upon literature on institutional change for sustainability at academic institutions (Sterling 2004, Beringer and Adomßent 2008, Miller et al 2008, Sherman 2008, Crow 2010, Ferrer-Balas et al 2010, Rusinko 2010, Stephens and Graham 2010, Brundiers and Wiek 2011, Krasny et al 2011). Our aim is to provide a synthetic overview of this literature for an interdisciplinary and implementation-oriented readership.…”

The Justice Dimension of Sustainability: A Systematic and General Conceptual Framework

“…In contrast, we develop a meta-approach to sustainability justice (for further meta-approaches, see [12,19,20,44]), mapping out the theoretical framework and requirements for sustainability-fitting justice conceptions by considering all three relationships that matter for sustainability: the relationships among contemporaries, with future generations, and with nature. With this, our approach identifies the space within which existing and potential future conceptions of sustainability justice may be located.…”

“…There is an enormous breadth and variety of different conceptions of sustainability in the political, practical and academic arenas (for meta-studies see e.g., [2,[11][12][13]19,20,[44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]). Sustainability can be characterized as a "thick" normative concept [53][54][55]: it carries both normative and descriptive content.…”