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The Sustainability Revolution: A Societal Paradigm Shift

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  • Tom R. Burns

    (Department of Sociology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75126, Sweden
    Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

This article addresses a question relevant to those interested in the achievement of greater sustainability: What are some of the ways that major societal transformations come about? Firstly, four key mechanisms are identified in the article. Then, I go on to focus on one of these, which has a prominent place in the sustainability revolution that it is argued is now taking place. The question of what are characteristic features of the sustainability revolution is addressed. The ongoing transformations are largely piecemeal, incremental, diffuse—in earlier writings referred to as “organic”. Organic is a more encompassing notion than “grassroots”, since the innovation and transformation processes may be launched and developed at multiple levels by collective agents that in some cases are very large and would not be understood as “grassroots” actors. The article argues that the sustainability revolution shares some features, in particular its organic character, with the early industrial revolution. It concludes by addressing the question of what are the similarities and differences between the sustainability and industrial revolutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Tom R. Burns, 2012. "The Sustainability Revolution: A Societal Paradigm Shift," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2012:i:6:p:1118-1134:d:18030
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gisela Casado Salguero & Manuel Ángel Fernández Gámez & Ignacio Aldeanueva Fernández & Daniel Ruíz Palomo, 2019. "Competitive Intelligence and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in the Hotel Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Alicja Małgorzata Graczyk, 2021. "Households Behaviour towards Sustainable Energy Management in Poland—The Homo Energeticus Concept as a New Behaviour Pattern in Sustainable Economics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, May.
    3. N. P. Hariram & K. B. Mekha & Vipinraj Suganthan & K. Sudhakar, 2023. "Sustainalism: An Integrated Socio-Economic-Environmental Model to Address Sustainable Development and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-37, July.
    4. Emilia Conte, 2018. "The Era of Sustainability: Promises, Pitfalls and Prospects for Sustainable Buildings and the Built Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Marc A. Rosen, 2013. "Engineering and Sustainability: Attitudes and Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Ralph Hansmann & Claudia R. Binder, 2020. "Determinants of Different Types of Positive Environmental Behaviors: An Analysis of Public and Private Sphere Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-30, October.
    7. Chong‐Wen Chen, 2022. "Approaching sustainable development goals: Inspirations from the Arts and Crafts movement to reshape production and consumption patterns," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1671-1681, December.
    8. Michaela T. Zint & Paige Porter & Michelle J. Bellino, 2023. "Can Co-Creating and Participating in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Develop Climate Change Leaders?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, June.
    9. Hugo F. Alrøe & Marion Sautier & Katharine Legun & Jay Whitehead & Egon Noe & Henrik Moller & Jon Manhire, 2017. "Performance versus Values in Sustainability Transformation of Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-31, February.
    10. Cristian Valentin Hapenciuc & Florina Pînzaru & Elena-Madalina Vatamanescu & Pavel Stanciu, 2015. "Converging Sustainable Entrepreneurship and the Contemporary Marketing Practices. An Insight into Romanian Start-Ups," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(40), pages 938-938, August.
    11. López-Illán Beatriz & Ibarra-Michel Juan Pedro, 2017. "Environmental Sustainability Analysis as a Competitive Strategy in the Hotel Industry of Sinaloa, Mexico," Czech Journal of Tourism, Sciendo, vol. 6(2), pages 171-186, December.
    12. Charles Afam Anosike, 2017. "Sustainability Practice of a Multinational Oil Company in Nigeria: A Case Study," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 7(1), pages 29-39, March.
    13. Maria Giovanna Confetto & Maddalena Della Volpe & Claudia Covucci, 2018. "Dual marketers and sustainability communication. Empirical evidence from corporate websites," MERCATI & COMPETITIVIT?, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(3), pages 41-68.

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