TY - JOUR

T1 - Analyzing the political impact of Real-world laboratories for urban transformation in eight German ‘Cities of the Future’

AU - Kampfmann, Teresa

AU - Lang, Daniel J.

AU - Weiser, Annika

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - Real-world laboratories (RwLs) provide research settings to develop and test sustainability solution options and have gained considerable attention in the field of sustainability research since the early 2010s. RwLs, especially those in which urban municipalities are involved as partners, have been linked to promises for fostering sustainable urban development, but they are also critically discussed, e.g., for being used as proof for already doing ‘enough’ in terms of sustainability and citizen participation. However, these assumptions are rarely empirically investigated. This paper applies a traceable methodological approach. We focus on long-term RwL processes in eight German cities, that were all part of the Cities of the Future funding program (2015–2022/23). Based on policy documents provided in city council information systems, we conducted a qualitative content analysis. By applying deductively and inductively developed codes, we capture the ways in which the RwL processes were a) linked to changes in urban polity, politics and policy, and b) strategically used by city officials. Our findings suggest that most of the RwLs had political impacts in several ways. Further, attempts of strategic use were particularly visible for politically highly impactful RwLs.

AB - Real-world laboratories (RwLs) provide research settings to develop and test sustainability solution options and have gained considerable attention in the field of sustainability research since the early 2010s. RwLs, especially those in which urban municipalities are involved as partners, have been linked to promises for fostering sustainable urban development, but they are also critically discussed, e.g., for being used as proof for already doing ‘enough’ in terms of sustainability and citizen participation. However, these assumptions are rarely empirically investigated. This paper applies a traceable methodological approach. We focus on long-term RwL processes in eight German cities, that were all part of the Cities of the Future funding program (2015–2022/23). Based on policy documents provided in city council information systems, we conducted a qualitative content analysis. By applying deductively and inductively developed codes, we capture the ways in which the RwL processes were a) linked to changes in urban polity, politics and policy, and b) strategically used by city officials. Our findings suggest that most of the RwLs had political impacts in several ways. Further, attempts of strategic use were particularly visible for politically highly impactful RwLs.

KW - Evaluation

KW - Political impact

KW - Real-world laboratories

KW - Societal impact

KW - Transdisciplinarity

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

KW - Transdisciplinary studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206005841&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103923

DO - 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103923

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85206005841

VL - 162

JO - Environmental Science and Policy

JF - Environmental Science and Policy

SN - 1462-9011

M1 - 103923

ER -