Transition theory and its discontents (its critique)

Transition theory, or socio-technical transition theory, is a quite popular theory at technical universities and elsewhere to explain changes in society, especially those supposedly driven by technological changes. It has a long history and has its benefits. But has also received important and fruitful critique, in particular how it tends to disregard politics, political economy and power, inequality, and social justice. These are of course foundational aspects of society so if you have chosen transition theory as your theory, these critiques are important to acknowledge. Below I have started to add a reading list of what I see as good critiques of transition theory.

I have no time now to fill this reading now so here is a start:

Critiques of transition theory (as formulated by Geels, Berkhout et al)

• Tough critique: Shove, E., & Walker, G. (2007). CAUTION! Transitions ahead: politics, practice, and sustainable transition management. Environment and Planning A, 39(4), 763–770. doi:10.1068/a39310
  • RESPONSE to Shove and Walker by: Rotmans, Jan, and Rene Kemp. 2008. “Detour Ahead: A Response to Shove and Walker about the Perilous Road of Transition Management.” Environment and Planning A 40(4):1006–11. doi: 10.1068/a4004let.
• Sympathetic critique (developing the theory from more critical perspectives)
  • Lawhon, Mary, and James T. Murphy. (2012) "Socio-technical regimes and sustainability transitions: Insights from political ecology." Progress in human geography 36(3): 354-378.
• Meadowcroft, J., 2011. Engaging with the politics of sustainability transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 1, 70–75.

Articles that developed the socio-technical transition perspective (or 'sustainability transition'):

• Geels, Frank W. 2002. “Technological Transitions as Evolutionary Reconfiguration Processes: A Multi-Level Perspective and a Case-Study.” Research Policy 31(8–9):1257–74. doi: 10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00062-8.
• Berkhout, Frans. 2003. “Socio-Technological Regimes and Transition Contexts.”
• Geels, F., and J. Schot. 2007. “Typology of Sociotechnical Transition Pathways.” Research Policy 36(3):399–417. doi: 10.1016/j.respol.2007.01.003.
• Markard, J., Raven, R., & Truffer, B. (2012). Sustainability transitions: An emerging field of research and its prospects. Research Policy, 41(6), 955–967. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2012.02.013

Response to some critics

• Geels, Frank W. 2019. “Socio-Technical Transitions to Sustainability: A Review of Criticisms and Elaborations of the Multi-Level Perspective.” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 39:187–201. doi: 10.1016/j.cosust.2019.06.009.