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Ambivalence, sustainability and the governance of sociotechnical transitions.

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Ambivalence, sustainability and the governance of sociotechnical transitions. / Walker, Gordon P.; Shove, Elizabeth.
In: Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, Vol. 9, No. 3-4, 09.2007, p. 213-225.

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Walker GP, Shove E. Ambivalence, sustainability and the governance of sociotechnical transitions. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. 2007 Sept;9(3-4):213-225. doi: 10.1080/15239080701622840

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Walker, Gordon P. ; Shove, Elizabeth. / Ambivalence, sustainability and the governance of sociotechnical transitions. In: Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. 2007 ; Vol. 9, No. 3-4. pp. 213-225.

Bibtex

@article{7f20be8faec241cda4d9f99b082c7155,
title = "Ambivalence, sustainability and the governance of sociotechnical transitions.",
abstract = "The goals of sustainable development are rarely simply and clearly defined, but more often—although to varying degrees—ambivalent, difficult to agree and hard to specify. This paper reflects on the inherent ambivalence of sustainability as a normative objective of steering and governance. It draws, in particular, on Bauman's account of the complex relationship between ambivalence, modernity and postmodernity, using these ideas to consider the strategic work involved in drawing boundaries around what is sustainable/unsustainable. The implications of the analysis are explored for conventional and reflexive approaches to the governance and management of socio-technical transitions. Strategies of reflexive governance promise to engage more openly and directly with the challenges of handling rather than eliminating ambivalent and changing goals. While these approaches bring some dimensions of ambivalence out into the open, they do so by framing debate in ways that background others, thereby obscuring the politics involved. The article concludes by turning the problem around and arguing that rather than being something managed through methods of governance, ambivalence is itself an outcome and a consequence of such techniques.",
keywords = "Sustainability, governance, transitions",
author = "Walker, {Gordon P.} and Elizabeth Shove",
year = "2007",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1080/15239080701622840",
language = "English",
volume = "9",
pages = "213--225",
journal = "Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning",
issn = "1523-908X",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "3-4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ambivalence, sustainability and the governance of sociotechnical transitions.

AU - Walker, Gordon P.

AU - Shove, Elizabeth

PY - 2007/9

Y1 - 2007/9

N2 - The goals of sustainable development are rarely simply and clearly defined, but more often—although to varying degrees—ambivalent, difficult to agree and hard to specify. This paper reflects on the inherent ambivalence of sustainability as a normative objective of steering and governance. It draws, in particular, on Bauman's account of the complex relationship between ambivalence, modernity and postmodernity, using these ideas to consider the strategic work involved in drawing boundaries around what is sustainable/unsustainable. The implications of the analysis are explored for conventional and reflexive approaches to the governance and management of socio-technical transitions. Strategies of reflexive governance promise to engage more openly and directly with the challenges of handling rather than eliminating ambivalent and changing goals. While these approaches bring some dimensions of ambivalence out into the open, they do so by framing debate in ways that background others, thereby obscuring the politics involved. The article concludes by turning the problem around and arguing that rather than being something managed through methods of governance, ambivalence is itself an outcome and a consequence of such techniques.

AB - The goals of sustainable development are rarely simply and clearly defined, but more often—although to varying degrees—ambivalent, difficult to agree and hard to specify. This paper reflects on the inherent ambivalence of sustainability as a normative objective of steering and governance. It draws, in particular, on Bauman's account of the complex relationship between ambivalence, modernity and postmodernity, using these ideas to consider the strategic work involved in drawing boundaries around what is sustainable/unsustainable. The implications of the analysis are explored for conventional and reflexive approaches to the governance and management of socio-technical transitions. Strategies of reflexive governance promise to engage more openly and directly with the challenges of handling rather than eliminating ambivalent and changing goals. While these approaches bring some dimensions of ambivalence out into the open, they do so by framing debate in ways that background others, thereby obscuring the politics involved. The article concludes by turning the problem around and arguing that rather than being something managed through methods of governance, ambivalence is itself an outcome and a consequence of such techniques.

KW - Sustainability

KW - governance

KW - transitions

U2 - 10.1080/15239080701622840

DO - 10.1080/15239080701622840

M3 - Journal article

VL - 9

SP - 213

EP - 225

JO - Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning

JF - Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning

SN - 1523-908X

IS - 3-4

ER -