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Change from Within: Exploring Transformative Literacy in Public Administrations to Foster Sustainability Transitions

Author

Listed:
  • Klaus Jacob

    (Environmental Policy Research Centre, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Caroline Paulick-Thiel

    (Politics for Tomorrow, 10999 Berlin, Germany)

  • Julia Teebken

    (Environmental Policy Research Centre, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sylvia Veit

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Universität Kassel, 34109 Kassel, Germany)

  • Mandy Singer-Brodowski

    (Institut Futur, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Public administrations are designed towards efficient and effective problem solving. A division of work along the various issues of public policy-making is constitutive for most administrations. With the recent demands to develop comprehensive transformative environmental policies, new tasks and requirements arise, both for individual officers as well as administrative organizations. Two central questions emerge in this context: How do officers and public policy administrations cope with transformation processes and what competencies are needed for shaping transformations? Based on a comprehensive literature review on policies for transformation, organizational learning, and education for sustainable development, we present a concept for transformative literacy. We explored how this concept resonates with officers from the Ministry for the Environment and from the Environmental Protection Agency in Germany. To this end, we conducted 17 qualitative interviews with officers from various departments and levels of hierarchy. The analysis reveals four different types of actors with distinct perspectives regarding their own role and theories of societal and political change. We conclude that a collaborative mode among these types of actors to address the challenges of shaping transformations to sustainability can mobilize additional capacities by making use of their complementary skills and resources. The article suggests that this should be reflected in organizational reforms and in training programs for political administration.

Suggested Citation

  • Klaus Jacob & Caroline Paulick-Thiel & Julia Teebken & Sylvia Veit & Mandy Singer-Brodowski, 2021. "Change from Within: Exploring Transformative Literacy in Public Administrations to Foster Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4698-:d:541525
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Geels, Frank W., 2002. "Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: a multi-level perspective and a case-study," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8-9), pages 1257-1274, December.
    2. Benno Ackermann & Oliver Krancher & Klaus North & Katrin Schildknecht & Silvia Schorta, 2018. "Erfolgreicher Wissenstransfer in agilen Organisationen," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-658-19468-0, October.
    3. Mandy Singer-Brodowski & Janne von Seggern & Anika Duveneck & Nadine Etzkorn, 2020. "Moving (Reflexively within) Structures. The Governance of Education for Sustainable Development in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rik B Braams & Joeri H Wesseling & Albert J Meijer & Marko P Hekkert, 2022. "Understanding why civil servants are reluctant to carry out transition tasks [“Legitimation” and “development of positive Externalities”: Two Key Processes in the Formation Phase of Technological I," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 49(6), pages 905-914.
    2. Christine Wamsler & Jamie Bristow, 2022. "At the intersection of mind and climate change: integrating inner dimensions of climate change into policymaking and practice," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-22, July.

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