The concept of the Anthropocene as a game-changer: a new context for social innovation and transformations to sustainability

Olsson, Per; Moore, Michele‐Lee; Westley, Frances; McCarthy, Daniel D.

doi:10.5751/es-09310-220231

Cited by 150 publications

(153 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…They call for a more dynamic, multigame perspective in which the structure is not fixed but dependent upon agency, a point that is especially pertinent to transformative social innovators who seek to challenge dominant institutions. Olsson et al (2017) argue that conceiving the current geological epoch as the Anthropocene represents a game-changer for social innovation research, calling for a perspective that addresses the linkages between social systems and ecosystems with a time frame for exploring change that is commensurate with the imperative of the Anthropocene.…”

Section: Conceptualizing Game-changers In Transformative Social Innovmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides the geographical diversity, from Africa, Europe, and India, to Latin America and North America, there is even more variety in terms of problem domains, ranging from specific functional systems, e.g., energy, food, or housing, to broader cross-domain issues such as the science-society interface, urban development, and climate change. Furthermore, there is diversity in temporality, varying from game-changers as single events, e.g., the 2014-2015 Belgian electricity blackout in Pel et al (2016), to developments spanning a few years, e.g., World War II in Westley et al (2016) or economic crises in Loorbach et al (2016) and Gordon et al (2017), to much slower, long-term developments, such as climate change in Campos et al (2016) or the Anthropocene in Olsson et al (2017).…”

Section: Empirical Examples Of Game-changers and (Transformative) Socmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The article describes two examples of social innovations with transformative potential (time banking and transition towns) that have experienced increased interest and activity since the economic crisis. Olsson et al (2017) argue that current debates on social innovations lack a deeper focus on human-environmental interactions and the related feedbacks, and that such a focus is critical to understanding large-scale transformations to sustainability. The paper explores how the concept of the Anthropocene can inform social innovation theory and practice, and suggests that it creates opportunities for social innovation scholars to creatively imagine new possibilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Game-changers and transformative social innovation

Avelino¹,

Wittmayer²,

Kemp³

et al. 2017

E&S

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ABSTRACT. This editorial introduces the special feature on the role of game-changers, broadly conceptualized as macro-trends that change the "rules of the game," in processes of transformative social innovation. First, the key concepts are introduced together with the academic workshop that brought together 25 scholars, from across a wide range of disciplines, to discuss the role of game-changers in transformative social innovation, resulting in the 9 contributions in this special feature. Second, the differing conceptualizations of the role of game-changers in transformative social innovation across the set of articles are discussed. Third, an overview is provided of the different empirical examples of game-changers and transformative social innovations addressed; examples were drawn from different geographical contexts across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Fourth, the differing epistemological approaches used to explain social change are noted, and lessons for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on social change discussed. Finally, a synthesis is provided of the main insights and contributions to the literature.

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Section: Conceptualizing Game-changers In Transformative Social Innovmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Empirical Examples Of Game-changers and (Transformative) Socmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Game-changers and transformative social innovation

Avelino¹,

Wittmayer²,

Kemp³

et al. 2017

E&S

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“…Transformations towards sustainability involve, for example, also changing practices, routines, and habits of both producers and consumers (e.g., [84][85][86][87]) and other types of innovation beyond technological solutions (e.g., [88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95]). Moreover, in order to achieve systemic changes, multiple sustainability dimensions (e.g., economic, institutional, cultural, organizational, etc.)…”

Section: Innovation Systems: Merits and Limits In The Light Of Transfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovation Systems for Transformations towards Sustainability? Taking the Normative Dimension Seriously

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The aim of this article is to complement research on transformations towards sustainability by drawing upon the innovation systems (IS) framework. The IS framework already serves as a suitable and influential basis for research on processes of technological innovation and economic change. We argue that improving the capacity of an IS framework for dealing with wicked problems and the normative complexity of sustainability requires a fundamental paradigm shift because in the current IS paradigm innovations are considered as per se desirable and in mostly technological terms. Therefore, we call for IS dedicated to transformations towards sustainability by opening up for systemic innovations beyond the technological dimension and by acknowledging that stakeholders have conflicting visions, interests, norms, and expectations with regard to sustainability goals. Taking the normative dimension of transformations towards sustainability seriously thus requires more explicit and integrative research on directionality, legitimacy, responsibility, and their interrelation in IS. The article concludes by proposing suggestions for future research based on IS-related approaches that can serve as building blocks for an IS framework capable of incorporating legitimate goal-orientation for transformative innovation by and for society.

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“…The number of authors linking the two explicitly and emphasizing the transformative potential of social innovations for a sustainable development is only slowly rising (cf. Haxeltine et al, 2013;McNeill, 2013;Parra, 2013;Olson et al, 2017). This leads also to an inconsistent terminology and a missing definition of the concept.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosocial Innovations as Part of Social and Solidarity Economy: Local Models for a Sustainable Development

Stamm

Hirvilammi

Matthies

et al. 2017

RISUS

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Abstract:The paper first introduces the concept of ecosocial innovations. These are local organizations embedded in social and solidarity economy, which combine ecological and social challenges in their work. They are successful models of how to operationalize sustainability. Based on a cross-national, multi-case study with a social work background, the paper aims at providing insights about the work and significance of ecosocial innovations. Drawn from interview material collected in four countries within selected ecosocial innovations, seven themes as common characteristics of these local actors are presented. One trait of ecosocial innovations is a creative mix of paid work, voluntary engagement, and subsidized employment in their activities. This mix is not only a compromise due to a lack of resources, but it also acknowledges the interconnectedness of well-being and sustainable social practices. The paper concludes with a summary of the main results and an outlook of the potential of ecosocial innovations for the future. They could for example serve as models for an ecological social work Keys-Words: Ecosocial innovations, social and solidarity economy, sustainability, social work Resumo: Este artigo apresenta o conceito de inovações eco-sociais. Conceito que remete para as organizações locais ligadas à economia social e solidária cuja intervenção não deixa de atender aos desafios sociais e ecológicos, podendo ser vistos como modelos de sucesso na operacionalização da sustentabilidade. Baseado num estudo comparativo multi-caso internacional, a partir de uma abordagem do Serviço Social, o artigo procura mostrar o trabalho desenvolvido nestas iniciativas, salientando a importância das mesmas. Entrevistas recolhidas junto dos atores locais em quatro países permitiram identificar sete características comuns às diferentes experiências estudadas. Destaca-se a identificação de um padrão comum no funcionamento destas inovações eco-sociais: uma criativa fusão de trabalho assalariado, voluntariado e emprego subvencionado. Esta combinação não é resultado, apenas, de compromissos motivados pela falta recursos, mas, também, da adoção de práticas sociais sustentáveis e de bem-estar. O artigo termina com um resumo das principais conclusões e um sobrevoar do potencial que as inovações eco-sociais apresentam para o futuro, podendo, por exemplo, fornecer modelos para um serviço social ecológico. Palavras-Chave: Inovações eco-sociais, economia social e solidária, sustentabilidade, serviço social

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The concept of the Anthropocene as a game-changer: a new context for social innovation and transformations to sustainability

Cited by 150 publications

References 78 publications

Game-changers and transformative social innovation

Game-changers and transformative social innovation

Innovation Systems for Transformations towards Sustainability? Taking the Normative Dimension Seriously

Ecosocial Innovations as Part of Social and Solidarity Economy: Local Models for a Sustainable Development

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