The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms

Frank W. Geels

doi:10.1016/j.eist.2011.02.002

The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms

Frank W. Geels

IMP Innovation, Strategy and Sustainability

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Abstract

The multi-level perspective (MLP) has emerged as a fruitful middle-range framework for analysing socio-technical transitions to sustainability. The MLP also received constructive criticisms. This paper summarises seven criticisms, formulates responses to them, and translates these into suggestions for future research. The criticisms relate to: (1) lack of agency, (2) operationalization of regimes, (3) bias towards bottom-up change models, (4) epistemology and explanatory style, (5) methodology, (6) socio-technical landscape as residual category, and (7) flat ontologies versus hierarchical levels. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	24-40
Number of pages	16
Journal	Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
Volume	1
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2011.02.002
Publication status	Published - Jun 2011

Keywords

Multi-level perspective
Response to critics
Sustainable development
Transitions

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.eist.2011.02.002

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The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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