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Challenges for Social-Ecological Transformations: Contributions from Social and Political Ecology

Author

Listed:
  • Christoph Görg

    (Institute of Social Ecology, 1070 Vienna, Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria)

  • Ulrich Brand

    (Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Helmut Haberl

    (Institute of Social Ecology, 1070 Vienna, Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria)

  • Diana Hummel

    (ISOE—Institute for Social-Ecological Research, 60486 Frankfurt/M., Germany)

  • Thomas Jahn

    (ISOE—Institute for Social-Ecological Research, 60486 Frankfurt/M., Germany)

  • Stefan Liehr

    (ISOE—Institute for Social-Ecological Research, 60486 Frankfurt/M., Germany)

Abstract

Transformation has become a major topic of sustainability research. This opens up new perspectives, but at the same time, runs the danger to convert into a new critical orthodoxy which narrows down analytical perspectives. Most research is committed towards a political-strategic approach towards transformation. This focus, however, clashes with ongoing transformation processes towards un-sustainability. The paper presents cornerstones of an integrative approach to social-ecological transformations (SET), which builds upon empirical work and conceptual considerations from Social Ecology and Political Ecology. We argue that a critical understanding of the challenges for societal transformations can be advanced by focusing on the interdependencies between societies and the natural environment. This starting point provides a more realistic understanding of the societal and biophysical constraints of sustainability transformations by emphasising the crisis-driven and contested character of the appropriation of nature and the power relations involved. Moreover, it pursues a transdisciplinary mode of research, decisive for adequately understanding any strategy for transformations towards sustainability. Such a conceptual approach of SET is supposed to better integrate the analytical, normative and political-strategic dimension of transformation research. We use the examples of global land use patterns, neo-extractivism in Latin America and the global water crisis to clarify our approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Görg & Ulrich Brand & Helmut Haberl & Diana Hummel & Thomas Jahn & Stefan Liehr, 2017. "Challenges for Social-Ecological Transformations: Contributions from Social and Political Ecology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:7:p:1045-:d:102599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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