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Multi-scalar view on niche diffusion - Understanding agency and institutional strategies in the process of diffusion of niche innovation

Mayr, Nicol LU (2021) EKHS34 20211
Department of Economic History
Abstract
Only recently has a geographical viewpoint on sustainability transitions opened up the
containerized view on transition trajectories. Next to the important step of
institutionalising niche logics transforming them into regime rationalities, the multi-scalar
perspective reveals that niches, as well as regimes, can also upscale. This means that the
socio-technical configuration of the niche or regime diffuses beyond the original territorial
context. Different trajectories of how niche innovation could be institutionalized and
upscaled were conceptualized. However, there is a gap in understanding what strategies
intermediary actors implement in this process to achieve the diffusion. This is also
because agency was not looked at... (More)
Only recently has a geographical viewpoint on sustainability transitions opened up the
containerized view on transition trajectories. Next to the important step of
institutionalising niche logics transforming them into regime rationalities, the multi-scalar
perspective reveals that niches, as well as regimes, can also upscale. This means that the
socio-technical configuration of the niche or regime diffuses beyond the original territorial
context. Different trajectories of how niche innovation could be institutionalized and
upscaled were conceptualized. However, there is a gap in understanding what strategies
intermediary actors implement in this process to achieve the diffusion. This is also
because agency was not looked at from a geographical perspective yet. Therefore, this
study combines an institutional perspective of transitions with conceptions of scale from
human geography to develop a framework that analyses the strategy of actors looking at
the engagement in institutional work at different spatial scales. The framework is applied
on the case of the National Blue Ribbon Commission (NBRC) that aims at diffusing a
transformative niche innovation of the water sector throughout the US. Results from a
qualitative content analysis of publications by the commission demonstrate that scale is an
integral part of institutional strategy in the process of diffusing a niche innovation.
Moreover, the NBRC effectively accelerates the diffusion of the innovation and achieves
political change in the highly regulated water sector. Policy makers could support the
formation of multi-scalar actors such as the NBRC in order to make sustainable
innovation spread in the fight of climate change. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Mayr, Nicol LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS34 20211
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
language
English
id
9057196
date added to LUP
2021-06-24 13:10:44
date last changed
2021-06-24 13:10:44
@misc{9057196,
  abstract     = {{Only recently has a geographical viewpoint on sustainability transitions opened up the 
containerized view on transition trajectories. Next to the important step of 
institutionalising niche logics transforming them into regime rationalities, the multi-scalar 
perspective reveals that niches, as well as regimes, can also upscale. This means that the 
socio-technical configuration of the niche or regime diffuses beyond the original territorial 
context. Different trajectories of how niche innovation could be institutionalized and 
upscaled were conceptualized. However, there is a gap in understanding what strategies
intermediary actors implement in this process to achieve the diffusion. This is also 
because agency was not looked at from a geographical perspective yet. Therefore, this 
study combines an institutional perspective of transitions with conceptions of scale from 
human geography to develop a framework that analyses the strategy of actors looking at 
the engagement in institutional work at different spatial scales. The framework is applied 
on the case of the National Blue Ribbon Commission (NBRC) that aims at diffusing a 
transformative niche innovation of the water sector throughout the US. Results from a 
qualitative content analysis of publications by the commission demonstrate that scale is an 
integral part of institutional strategy in the process of diffusing a niche innovation. 
Moreover, the NBRC effectively accelerates the diffusion of the innovation and achieves 
political change in the highly regulated water sector. Policy makers could support the 
formation of multi-scalar actors such as the NBRC in order to make sustainable 
innovation spread in the fight of climate change.}},
  author       = {{Mayr, Nicol}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Multi-scalar view on niche diffusion - Understanding agency and institutional strategies in the process of diffusion of niche innovation}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}