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Boundary Bridging Arrangements: A Boundary Work Approach to Local Energy Transitions

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  • Jens Koehrsen

    (Centre for Religion, Economy, and Politics, University of Basel, Nadelberg 10, Basel 4051, Switzerland
    Honorary Research Associate, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

Abstract

Local energy transitions involve various types of actors (e.g., politicians, businesses, public administrators, and citizens) that differ in their objectives, values, problem-related perspectives, and professional jargons: these differences risk deterring the collaboration that is needed to pursue energy transitions as encompassing socio-technological transformations. Based on a boundary work-approach, this contribution studies the interplay of actors in these transitions. The approach suggests that boundary bridging arrangements (e.g., boundary objects, boundary settings, and boundary organizations) evolve in local energy transitions, facilitating communication across the boundaries between the various types of actors. In applying the boundary work approach to the energy transitions in two German cities, the article explores the potentials and limitations of this approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Koehrsen, 2017. "Boundary Bridging Arrangements: A Boundary Work Approach to Local Energy Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:424-:d:93066
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    2. Rohe, Sebastian & Chlebna, Camilla, 2022. "The evolving role of networking organizations in advanced sustainability transitions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    3. Köhrsen, Jens, 2018. "Exogenous shocks, social skill, and power: Urban energy transitions as social fields," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 307-315.
    4. Chlebna, Camilla & Mattes, Jannika, 2019. "When the novelty fades – Socio-technical, spatial and temporal dimensions of regional energy transitions," Papers in Innovation Studies 2019/6, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    5. Irshaid, Jenan & Mochizuki, Junko & Schinko, Thomas, 2021. "Challenges to local innovation and implementation of low-carbon energy-transition measures: A tale of two Austrian regions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Roysen, Rebeca & Bruehwiler, Nadine & Kos, Lasse & Boyer, Robert & Koehrsen, Jens, 2024. "Rethinking the diffusion of grassroots innovations: An embedding framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    7. Manohisoa Rakotondrabe & Fabien Girard, 2021. "Protecting Traditional Knowledge through Biocultural Community Protocols in Madagascar: Do Not Forget the “B” in BCP," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-36, September.

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