In sustainability transitions, as answers to persistent problems and societal challenges, local initiatives are assumed as having an important role. Their success is supposed to be depended on a variety of drivers. Among others, social and particularly higher order learning is proposed as a key instrument to deal with uncertainties and complexity in sustainability transitions. Empowerment is forwarded as a core aim of governance approaches to facilitate sustainability transitions, due to enabling citizens to shape sustainability locally. Finally social capital is proposed as important precondition for joint local action when addressing societal challenges This paper explores the meaning of social learning, empowerment and social capital for sustainability transitions at local scale and analyses how a development of all three factors can get facilitated by local transition management.
In a first step we define and conceptualize social learning, empowerment and social capital in the context of sustainability transitions. We then present the results of three transition management pilot projects in local communities with regard to strengthening social learning, empowerment and social capital amongst participants. In a last step the orientation of the facilitated process towards sustainability is analysed along four dimensions: environmental thinking, social thinking, interregional and inter-temporal thinking. Results show that in all three pilot projects social learning, empowerment and social capital development took place and the processes had a clear orientation towards sustainability.