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Putting practice into policy: reconfiguring questions of consumption and climate change

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  • Elizabeth Shove

Abstract

Understanding how societies change is core business for the social sciences and there is no shortage of theories about how transitions come about. Despite this reservoir of ideas, efforts to promote more sustainable patterns of consumer behaviour draw upon a remarkably narrow range of conceptual resources. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the potential and the relevance of paradigms that lie outside the dominant discourses and traditions of economics and psychology. The method is to detail the implications of a handful of key propositions anchored in a 'strong' interpretation of practice theory. By organising this discussion around an invented conversation between a fictional policy-maker and an equally fictional social scientist, the paper explores further questions regarding the role of social theory and evidence in contemporary policy.

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  • Elizabeth Shove, 2014. "Putting practice into policy: reconfiguring questions of consumption and climate change," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 415-429, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocxx:v:9:y:2014:i:4:p:415-429
    DOI: 10.1080/21582041.2012.692484
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Low, Nicholas & Astle, Rachel, 2009. "Path dependence in urban transport: An institutional analysis of urban passenger transport in Melbourne, Australia, 1956-2006," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 47-58, March.
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    2. Kinga Nagyné Pércsi & Apolka Ujj & Paulina Jancsovszka, 2023. "Segmentation of Hungarian Consumers Based on Circular Economy Values and Awareness of Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
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    5. Filippo Corsini & Rafael Laurenti & Franziska Meinherz & Francesco Paolo Appio & Luca Mora, 2019. "The Advent of Practice Theories in Research on Sustainable Consumption: Past, Current and Future Directions of the Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, January.
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    12. Lamers, Machiel & van der Duim, René & Spaargaren, Gert, 2017. "The relevance of practice theories for tourism research," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 54-63.
    13. Lena Kilian & Anne Owen & Andy Newing & Diana Ivanova, 2022. "Exploring Transport Consumption-Based Emissions: Spatial Patterns, Social Factors, Well-Being, and Policy Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-26, September.
    14. Kevin Marechal, 2018. "Recasting the Understanding of Habits for Behaviour-Oriented Policies in Transportation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, March.
    15. Tom Dedeurwaerdere & Olivier De Schutter & E Mathijs & Marek Hudon & Sibylle Bui & Ionara Da Costa & Ana Alicia Dipierri & Paula Fernández-Wulff & Hélène Joachain & Tijtske Anna Zwart, 2018. "Food4Sustainability: Collective action for sustainable food systems in a changing climate: assessing social experimentations and policy innovations," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/317131, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    16. Marisa Faggini & Silvia Cosimato & Anna Parziale, 2023. "The way towards food sustainability: some insights for pasta supply chain," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(2), pages 679-702, July.
    17. Morley, Janine, 2018. "Rethinking energy services: The concept of ‘meta-service’ and implications for demand reduction and servicizing policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 563-569.
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