Modelling Transitions: Virtues, Vices, Visions of the Future

Sustainability transitions research has been long dominated by the use of narratives and case studies as the main means to accumulate knowledge. Although the documentation of case studies has been absolutely important in this now-established field, this books calls for a more rigorous approach. Further progress entails dealing with the intricacies of multi-level dynamics, co-evolution, and different forms of stakeholder participation, for which other tools are needed. The book ultimately advocates a scientific attitude that allows to build theories across different cases, data-driven studies, and formal models that bridge theory construction and empirical data. Thus, modelling is called to play a major role in understanding sustainability transitions.