An actionable understanding of societal transitions: the X-curve framework

Area of Science:

• Sustainability Science
• Societal Transitions Research
• Governance Strategies

Background:

• Existing frameworks inadequately capture the complex dynamics of societal transitions, particularly the interplay of build-up and breakdown.
• Current models often overlook exnovation and breakdown, limiting their utility for understanding turbulent, in-progress transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and elaborate on the X-curve framework for analyzing sustainability transitions.
• To demonstrate the X-curve's utility in fostering shared understanding and reflection on roles within transitions-in-the-making.

Main Methods:

• Development of the X-curve framework, a simplified depiction of transition dynamics.
• Application of the X-curve framework to three case studies.
• Analysis of the framework's effectiveness in supporting shared understanding and reflection.

Main Results:

• The X-curve framework explicitly captures build-up, breakdown, and their interactions.
• Case studies illustrate the framework's strength in facilitating shared understanding of transition dynamics.
• The framework aids groups in reflecting on roles, influence, and capacities for desired transitions.

Conclusions:

• The X-curve framework enhances understanding and navigation of sustainability transition dynamics.
• Addressing challenges like grasping 'chaos' is key to strengthening the framework's application.
• The framework offers value for action research in sustainability transitions.