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The Role of Global Actors in Sustainability Transitions - Exploring a Change Vehicle Trajectory in the Water and Sanitation Sector

Lesch, Djamila LU (2022) EKHS35 20221
Department of Economic History
Abstract
The literature on sustainability transitions analyzes structural shifts towards
more sustainable consumption and production patterns. Recently, it has been
recognized that structures transcending national boundaries can both hinder and
promote sustainability transitions. In this context, multi-scalar transition trajectories have been outlined, suggesting, among other things, that sectoral transformations can be initiated directly at the international scale. To date, however, there is only preliminary evidence on the role of actors in multi-scalar transition trajectories, although it is likely that different global actors have distinct capacities to initiate, steer, or reinforce multi-scalar transitions. To explore the role of global... (More)
The literature on sustainability transitions analyzes structural shifts towards
more sustainable consumption and production patterns. Recently, it has been
recognized that structures transcending national boundaries can both hinder and
promote sustainability transitions. In this context, multi-scalar transition trajectories have been outlined, suggesting, among other things, that sectoral transformations can be initiated directly at the international scale. To date, however, there is only preliminary evidence on the role of actors in multi-scalar transition trajectories, although it is likely that different global actors have distinct capacities to initiate, steer, or reinforce multi-scalar transitions. To explore the role of global actors in multi-scalar transition trajectories, a case study of World Bank (WB) engagement in the water and sanitation sector from 2000 to 2021 is conducted. To this end, a mixed-methods approach is proposed, consisting of a socio-technical configuration analysis of 93 WB project documents and an analysis of 14 expert interviews. By doing so, it is demonstrated how a paradigm shift in the sanitation sector was promoted by an actor constellation of international intermediaries, comprising academics and a renowned foundation, and international organizations, among them the WB. By illustrating that international intermediaries initiate change by convening diverse stakeholders, who subsequently serve as change vehicles disseminating new ideas, technologies, and paradigms around the world, the thesis refines the understanding of the global nature of sustainability transitions. (Less)
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author
Lesch, Djamila LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS35 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
9101707
date added to LUP
2022-11-09 08:48:06
date last changed
2022-11-09 08:48:06
@misc{9101707,
  abstract     = {{The literature on sustainability transitions analyzes structural shifts towards
more sustainable consumption and production patterns. Recently, it has been
recognized that structures transcending national boundaries can both hinder and
promote sustainability transitions. In this context, multi-scalar transition trajectories have been outlined, suggesting, among other things, that sectoral transformations can be initiated directly at the international scale. To date, however, there is only preliminary evidence on the role of actors in multi-scalar transition trajectories, although it is likely that different global actors have distinct capacities to initiate, steer, or reinforce multi-scalar transitions. To explore the role of global actors in multi-scalar transition trajectories, a case study of World Bank (WB) engagement in the water and sanitation sector from 2000 to 2021 is conducted. To this end, a mixed-methods approach is proposed, consisting of a socio-technical configuration analysis of 93 WB project documents and an analysis of 14 expert interviews. By doing so, it is demonstrated how a paradigm shift in the sanitation sector was promoted by an actor constellation of international intermediaries, comprising academics and a renowned foundation, and international organizations, among them the WB. By illustrating that international intermediaries initiate change by convening diverse stakeholders, who subsequently serve as change vehicles disseminating new ideas, technologies, and paradigms around the world, the thesis refines the understanding of the global nature of sustainability transitions.}},
  author       = {{Lesch, Djamila}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Role of Global Actors in Sustainability Transitions - Exploring a Change Vehicle Trajectory in the Water and Sanitation Sector}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}