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What is protective space? Reconsidering niches in transitions to sustainability

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 09:37 authored by Adrian SmithAdrian Smith, Rob Raven
The transitions literature emphasises the role of niches, defined as a protective space for pathbreakinginnovations. Surprisingly, the concept of protection has not been systematically interrogated. Our analysis identifies protection as having three functions in wider transition processes: shielding, nurturing and empowerment. Empowerment, understood as processes and mechanisms that contribute to changes in mainstream selection environments in ways favourable to the pathbreaking innovation, is considered the least developed in current niche development literature. We argue that these properties need to be understood from an agency perspective, with attention for the politics involved in their realisation. The paper ends with an outlook upon two promising research avenues: 1) the reconstruction of niche development pathways in light of the present framework; 2)analyses of the diverse (political) narratives seeking to empower niches across time and space.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Research Policy

ISSN

0048-7333

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

6

Volume

41

Page range

1025-1036

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-05-08

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