Bridge over troubled water: managing compatibility and conflict among thought collectives in sustainability science

Sustainability transformations call forth new forms and systems of knowledge across society. However, few tools and processes exist for promoting dialogue among different interests and normative stances in knowledge co-creation. In this article, we build on the notion of thought collectives to argue...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability science 2022, Vol.17 (1), p.27-44
Main Authors: Soininen, Niko, Raymond, Christopher M., Tuomisto, Hanna, Ruotsalainen, Laura, Thorén, Henrik, Horcea-Milcu, Andra-Ioana, Stojanovic, Milutin, Lehtinen, Sanna, Mazac, Rachel, Lamuela, Carlos, Korpelainen, Noora, Vainio, Annukka, Toivanen, Reetta, McPhearson, Timon, Nagatsu, Michiru
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Annan samhällsvetenskap
Climate Change Management and Policy
Concepts
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Environment
Environmental Economics
Environmental Management
Environmental Sciences
Filosofi
Filosofi, etik och religion
Food production
Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap
Humaniora och konst
Humanities
Knowledge management
Knowledge Management for Sustainability Science
Landscape Ecology
Methodology
Miljövetenskap
Mobility
Natural Sciences
Naturvetenskap
Original Article
Other Social Sciences
Philosophy
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
Public Health
Reflexivity
Research management
Samhällsvetenskap
Social Sciences
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Sustainability
Sustainability science
Sustainable Development
Thought collective
Tvärvetenskapliga studier
Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap
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Summary:Sustainability transformations call forth new forms and systems of knowledge across society. However, few tools and processes exist for promoting dialogue among different interests and normative stances in knowledge co-creation. In this article, we build on the notion of thought collectives to argue that understanding and moderating normative tensions are necessary if sustainability science is to provide successful solutions. Drawing on an analysis of the normative tensions between rival high-tech and low-tech thought collectives in the mobility and food production sectors, we discuss three strategic approaches: applying common evaluative frameworks, building contextual convergence and embracing complexity. We argue that these strategies indicate a need to distinguish different kinds of reflexivity in managing tensions among thought collectives. As a practical conclusion, we establish sets of reflexive questions to help sustainability scientists deploy the knowledge management strategies discussed.
ISSN:1862-4065
1862-4057
1862-4057
DOI:10.1007/s11625-021-01068-w