TY - JOUR

T1 - Explaining energy transition

T2 - A systemic social mechanisms approach illustrated with the examples of Germany and Poland

AU - Weisenfeld, Ursula

AU - Rollert, Katarzyna Ewa

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Markus Reihlen and Paul Upham for fruitful discussions on an earlier version of this paper. We thank anonymous reviewers for many useful suggestions. We thank Susanne Weerda for handling the references. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

PY - 2024/6/1

Y1 - 2024/6/1

N2 - In our conceptual paper, we develop a systemic social mechanisms model to explain change and inertia of energy systems. Situational, action-formation, and transformational mechanisms that drive change in a transition require corresponding framing and framing contests to create legitimacy for that transition. We conceptualize mechanisms of socio-technical transitions and of creating legitimacy for transitions as mutual drivers and outcomes, with framing contests as crucial for achieving legitimacy for change. We propose that the social mechanisms approach supports evidence-based policy-making, underlines the need for flexibility in the face of changing contexts, and highlights the key role of framing contests for meaning making and for activating further mechanisms. We illustrate our proposition with two examples, the Polish and the German electricity system.

AB - In our conceptual paper, we develop a systemic social mechanisms model to explain change and inertia of energy systems. Situational, action-formation, and transformational mechanisms that drive change in a transition require corresponding framing and framing contests to create legitimacy for that transition. We conceptualize mechanisms of socio-technical transitions and of creating legitimacy for transitions as mutual drivers and outcomes, with framing contests as crucial for achieving legitimacy for change. We propose that the social mechanisms approach supports evidence-based policy-making, underlines the need for flexibility in the face of changing contexts, and highlights the key role of framing contests for meaning making and for activating further mechanisms. We illustrate our proposition with two examples, the Polish and the German electricity system.

KW - Energy system

KW - Framing contest

KW - Legitimacy

KW - Social mechanisms

KW - Sustainability transition

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187534079&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103512

DO - 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103512

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85187534079

VL - 112

JO - Energy Research and Social Science

JF - Energy Research and Social Science

SN - 2214-6296

M1 - 103512

ER -