Game-changers and transformative social innovation

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This editorial introduces the special feature on the role of game-changers, broadly conceptualized as macro-trends that change the "rules of the game," in processes of transformative social innovation. First, the key concepts are introduced together with the academic workshop that brought together 25 scholars, from across a wide range of disciplines, to discuss the role of game-changers in transformative social innovation, resulting in the 9 contributions in this special feature. Second, the differing conceptualizations of the role of game-changers in transformative social innovation across the set of articles are discussed. Third, an overview is provided of the different empirical examples of game-changers and transformative social innovations addressed; examples were drawn from different geographical contexts across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Fourth, the differing epistemological approaches used to explain social change are noted, and lessons for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on social change discussed. Finally, a synthesis is provided of the main insights and contributions to the literature.

Beyond participation! Social innovations facilitating movement from authoritative state to participatory forest governance in Ukraine

“…A procedural and step-by-step perspective is relevant in cases where the social innovations aim to change governance practices characterized by strong path dependency (Beunen and Patterson 2016), as with the Soviet-style authoritarian forest governance regime in Ukraine. Transformations do not happen overnight (Avelino et al 2017). Therefore, social innovation initiatives can benefit greatly from identifying stepwise paths towards transformation (Buckland and Murillo 2013), such as those presented in this paper.…”

“…Social innovation initiatives are an alternative to state-based governance and provide examples that can integrate local participation into a larger existing governance framework (see EC 2014; Baker and Mehmood 2015;Dennis et al 2016;Avelino et al 2017;GRAID 2017). Social innovations in forest governance are defined in the present paper as ''reconfigurations of relationships between state, market actors, civil society and science that facilitate a movement from authoritative state to participatory forest governance to better meet the concerns of local people on the use of ecosystem services''.…”

A Global Mapping of Social Innovations: Challenges of a Theory Driven Methodology

“…Especially the transformative social innovation theory approach of the TRANSIT project (http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/, Avelino and Wittmayer 2014) has to be taken into account focusing on a methodology to analyse transformative change on the macro level of game changers and social innovation networks (e.g. Avelino and Wittmayer 2014, Avelino et al 2017, Haxeltine et al 2013). Not to forget, the different articles of this EPSIR issue are a good ground for an ongoing methodology discussion and development.…”

“…economic crises, demographic change, environmental stress, education and lifelong learning, unemployment, social exclusion, poverty), the contribution of social innovations to systemic or transformative change (see e.g. Schwarz 2016, Avelino andWittmayer 2014) has become more and more relevant in recent years. But as Jenson and Harrison already stated, a sound and accepted theoretical framework for Social Innovation was still missing only a few years ago: "Although social innovations pop up in many areas and policies and in many disguises, and social innovation is researched from a number of theoretical and methodological angles, the conditions under which social innovations develop, flourish and sustain and finally lead to societal change are not yet fully understood both in political and academic circles" (European Commission 2013: 7).…”

Social Innovation as a Driver for New Educational Practices: Modernising, Repairing and Transforming the Education System

“…Realising a shift towards sustainable societies in the end is closely linked to innovative answers and new approaches to innovation [12]. This is where the concept and potential of social innovation as the establishment and diffusion of new practices is coming into play again, especially as it provides the potential for transformative social change (e.g., [13]); for instance, concerning sustainable consumption [14].…”