Narratives of change:: how social innovation initiatives engage with their transformative ambitions (original) (raw)
Related papers
Transformative social innovation: a sustainability transitions perspective on social innovation
2013
Solutions to the grand societal challenges faced by the knowledge society of the early 21st century will necessarily involve systemic change. This in turn implies a need to understand the ways in which social innovation can be ultimately transformative (creating the conditions for systemic change). This paper addresses the question “how can social innovation be analysed in relation to systemic change and grand societal challenges?” Social innovation is re-conceptualised in relation to systemic change, drawing upon a transitions perspective and emphasizing the important roles of: empowerment, transformative discourses and game-changing developments. This provides a broad conceptual framework, suitable for critically evaluating the hypothesis that social innovation is able to bring about new forms of social interaction that empower people to undertake strategies and actions which, under certain conditions, lead to transformative, systemic change. We propose a methodology for the devel...
IGN Interventions, 2018
Parts of the transformation literature seem strangely disconnected from the sociological analysis of contemporary capitalist societies. Starting out from this diagnosis of a social theory deficit and guided by the distinction of three levels of transformation proposed by the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), the present article first deals with a niche player – the degrowth movement – to which considerable expectations regarding its transformative potential are linked. Next, it widens the perspective to the societal mainstream and explores how, in only marginally growing economies, exclusionary and illiberal populist movements, rather than sustainability-oriented values, have become the determining force. Finally, the focus is on the capabilities of the democratic state, which is usually expected to adopt a vital role in the transformation to sustainability. Overall, the investigation into transformative capacities at these three levels leads to a rather sceptical assessment of the ability and willingness of modern consumer societies to achieve sustainability. We therefore argue that the social science branch of the transformation debate ought to take more care in putting their transformationrelated diagnoses, recommendations and strategies on proper social-theoretical foundations.
HOW DOES CHANGE COME ABOUT ? / ABOUT SOCIETAL INTERACTIVE CHANGE An inter/trans-disciplinary attempt to the complexity of a contemporary change prospect SPIRITUALITY-BIODIVERSITY / CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP OF WELFARE – a Past, Present, and Future Outlook eliciting the Heritage, Contemporary Challenge, Near and Next Perspective. Does Humankind matter beyond limitations and paradoxes? Are “Contemporary World Changes” possible, and how to be proceeded? Are all these probabilistic and/or fuzzy patterns, or else? How could be done the initial steps toward ’Innovative Social Relations’ for “Sustainable Development“ through Social Signal Processing – within a cybernetic and systemic background addressing an incompleteness / inconsistence (Gödel, 1931) of our human elicited and disseminated information/knowledge/data? [versus the only “N-1” characteristics from a set of “N” rational desired characteristics cognitively described into the current systemic context] Purpose – This (e-)book aims to constitute an initial and open global study addressing the open stance “Past, Present, Future” as a challenge to analyse the possibility and to elicit a part of the procedures related to “Contemporary World Changes”, and to propose the initial steps toward an ‘Innovative Social Relations’ for “Sustainable Development” corpus through Social Signal Processing. It is to gain the conceptual basis toward the elicitation of the constructs: new type of entrepreneur, and a new type of entrepreneur of PEACE – the both types within Knowledge Society Mind/Conscience/Consciousness Society. Design/methodology/approach – The nucleus of this critical global study is addressed to the contemporary and near future (e-)World – Including an Interacting Forum of (e-)readers from an open societal systemic background. The nucleus is step by step extended to eleven inquiries, their explanation, the associated guide by the content of the table presenting four cases of the relation between different modelling approaches according to an extended System Theory to a (Non)Systemic Theory – on the background of KNOWLEDGE vs. FRAME concepts, subsequent to an ordered list of I – XXIV inquiries, and their details – addressing a so called Social Signal Processing toward the constituting and developing of an ‘Innovative Social Relations’ for “Sustainable Development” corpus. All these would be the locus for (re)acting the proposed 'SPIRITUALITY-BIODIVERSITY / CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP OF WELFARE' composed construct as an innovative perspective for the open stance “Past, Present, Future”. Findings – 'SPIRITUALITY-BIODIVERSITY / CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP OF WELFARE' composed construct as a perspective for the open stance “Past, Present, Future”. So, our Humankind beyond the space-time continuum could transit from the contemporary Knowledge Economy/Society by eliciting Contemporary World Changes, within a multi-staged approach toward a Mind/Conscience/Consciousness Economy/Society. A primal role would be assigned by the coherent, cohesive and concordant implementation of the triadic construct Generosity versus Creativity and Solidarity, and the elicited way to attain the scientific and supposed praxis realm toward an ‘Innovative Social Relations’ for “Sustainable Development” corpus through Social Signal Processing / toward a new type of entrepreneur, and toward a new type of entrepreneur of PEACE – the both types within Knowledge Society Mind/Conscience/Consciousness Society. Originality/value – It is obvious that a critical analysis and synthesis of our worldwide (post-)crisis events must deal with an original approach within an added gnoseologic and/or epistemic value, and expected responsible 'points' - as societal turning points - yesterday, today, tomorrow....
On the agency and dynamics of transformative social innovation
Citation: Haxeltine A., Jørgensen, M. S., Pel, B., Dumitru, A., Avelino, F., Bauler, Lema, Blanco, I., T. Chilvers, J., Cipolla, C., Dorland, J., Elle, M., Garido, S., Kemp, R., Kunze, I., Longhurst, N., Pataki, G., Rach, S., Renema, J., Ruijsink, S., Strasser, T., Tawakol, D., Weaver, P. and Wittmayer J. M. (2016) On the agency and dynamics of transformative social innovation, (TRANSIT working paper #7), TRANSIT: EU SSH.2013.3.2-1 Grant agreement no: 613169. Abstract: This working paper presents a set of propositions about the agency and dynamics of transformative social innovation (TSI) that have been developed as part of an EU-funded research project entitled “TRANsformative Social Innovation Theory” (TRANSIT; 2014-2017). These TSI propositions represent first steps towards the development of a new theory of TSI, taking the form of proto-explanations of the agency and dynamics of TSI, based on the bringing together of our empirical observations on TSI and the project's theoretical reviews and theoretical framings. Ideally this working paper should be read in conjunction with the working paper entitled “A framework for transformative social innovation” (Haxeltine et al 2016) which presents in skeletal terms the theoretical and conceptual framing of TSI developed in the TRANSIT project. This TSI framework builds on sustainability transition studies, social innovation research, social psychology studies of empowerment and other several other areas of social theory to deliver a bespoke theoretical and conceptual framework that is grounded in a relational ontology and which is being employed as a platform for the development of a middle-range theory of TSI. Next we provide a very brief overview of some key elements of the framework, in particular how we conceptualise social innovation, transformative change, and transformative social innovation. Propositions were developed for each of four relational dimensions implied by the TSI framework with also a brief statement of the topic addressed by each of the twelve propositions
Futures, 2007
This special issue of Futures is filled with good examples of initiatives that each in their own way take part in shaping our common future. Authors from different parts of the world document that the initiatives make a difference within their own realm. The question raised here is how and to what extent such transformative efforts can contribute to transforming the world at macro level, bringing us closer to a sustainable society. Based on the flora of literature about sustainable development, five different answers are presented in the form of five alternative pathways. The goal should not be to reach consensus on which strategy is best, but rather to have as many people as possible marching together in the same direction under different banners. Individuals who see no pathway leading to their goal tend to resign. The combined efforts of people with common goals but different strategies may produce the necessary dynamics to meet the needs of future generations.
Do theories of change enable innovation platforms and partnerships to navigate towards impact?
2017
Theories of change (ToCs) are increasingly used to articulate pathways for interventions and to support learning. This responds to the recognition of the complexity of agricultural development. Through two examples, this paper examines how ToCs have enabled practitioners to navigate towards impact in settings characterized by a multiplicity of views from different actors on issues of joint concern. The cases discuss how the intervention programs test the ToCs, as well as organize and reflect on feedback. The cases reveal that one cannot predict the route to impact, but one can compose plausible story lines explicating the assumptions. Developing and using ToCs takes time and requires a deliberate effort to monitor actions and changes. Connecting practitioners with researchers makes it possible to use more intermediate theorisations tailored to situated and specific impact pathways. However, the dynamics captured by ToCs may contrast with the donors' demands for accountability and consistent reliance on a rigid log-frame approach to determine project activities and outputs. Therefore, it is relevant to make explicit choices about how to relate ToCs to M&E efforts. Photo: WUR/CDI Stakeholders preparing their Theory of Change Do theories of change enable innovation platforms and partnerships to navigate towards impact? | 2017-13
SRE Discussion Paper , 2022
This article scrutinizes the potential of transformative innovations to contribute to social-ecological transformations. It problematizes the positive connotation linked to innovations in tackling contemporary social and environmental challenges by giving an overview of theories of innovation, with a focus on social innovations, and systematizing the multiple meanings of the term transformation. We define transformative innovations as innovations that contribute to those transformations that are desirable and feasible in a specific conjuncture. Desirable are innovations that enable a good life for all within planetary boundaries, feasible are those that can be implemented here and now, given specific constellations of actors, power relations and structural constraints and possibilities. Furthermore, we describe the current conjuncture, dwell on collective and political actions and explore one promising transformative innovation: creating and strengthening sustainable and inclusive provisioning systems, that are feasible in the short term and effective in the long-term.