| Transitions and system innovations concern processes of socio-technological change, which include adaptations in the institutions of state, market, science and society and the ways in which they historically have become aligned in processes of co-evolution. Thus, while much governance literature depicts the difference between traditional notions of government and the concept of governance as merely a difference between top-down and interactive modes of governing, the challenge involved here is more profound. From the perspective of transitions and system innovations, the traditional concept of government is problematic not only because of its plan-and-control mode of governing (relying on reason), but also because of its unjustified assumption of a neat separation between governmental institutions and institutions of economy, science and society unjustified because it neglects the alignment between these institutions (Grin, 2005). The objective of this project is to contribute to a better understanding of the governance of such fundamental innovations, over a prolonged period. 2.2 Research question, empirical object and theoretical approach We will designate this notion of governance with the shorthand reflexive governance, a concept which fundamentally differs from government in, first, going beyond rational planning and its neglect of the autonomy of societal and economic practices; and, second, in critically opening up, making discursive, the existing shapes and mutual alignment of the institutions of state, society, market and science. These two points imply that a variety of specific, local practices of system innovation should be the focal point of reflexive governance. Such practices such as the design and realization of new pig farming systems in South East Netherlands, or a re-orientation of water management in a particular region are, however, typically limited in scope: they span 1-3 years of time and are focused on a particular location. To promote change beyond that, they need to bring about a chain of changes in action and in structure: practices bringing about new initiatives and structural changes that on their turn may trigger further innovative action and structural change, and so on. The central question of this project is: how can processes of change that emerge from local practices, have an impact beyond (in time and space) these practices and contribute to a wider system innovation and transition? |
