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CASE STUDY Report: [The Transition Movement]

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CASE STUDY Report: [The Transition Movement] WP4 | CASE STUDY Report: [The Transition Movement] Theme [ssh.2013.3.2-1][Social Innovation- Empowering People, changing societies] Project Full Title: “Transformative Social Innovation Theory project” Grant Agreement n. 613169 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 613169 Transit – Grant agreement n. 613169 – WP4 – CASE STUDY REPORT [Transition Movement] 2 Suggested citation: Longhurst, N. and Pataki, G. (2015) WP4 CASE STUDY Report: The Transition Movement TRANSIT: EU SSH.2013.3.2-1 Grant agreement no: 613169 Acknowledgements: Thanks to all the interviewees and other participants within Transition Network, Transition Town Totnes and Transition Wekerle for their collaboration and co-operation. Their generosity with their time and willingness to share their thoughts and reflections on the development of Transition were invaluable in the development of the case. Date: 31 March 2015 Authors: Noel Longhurst, György Pataki Contact person: Noel Longhurst ([email protected]) Table of contents 1 Introduction to The Transition Movement ................................................. 6 2. Methodology ........................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Researcher relations to the case ................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Methods ................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.1 Overall methodology .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Interviews .............................................................................................................................................................................10 2.2.3 Participant observation .................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2.4 Document reviews ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 3 Analysis of transnational network(ing) .................................................. 13 3.1 Transnational networking: The Transition movement ..................................................... 13 3.2 Aspects of ‘innovation’ and ‘change’ of the transnational network(ing) ................. 19 3.2.1 Relation with social innovation .................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.2 Relation with system innovation ................................................................................................................................. 20 3.2.3 Relation with game-changers ........................................................................................................................................ 22 3.2.4 Relation with societal transformation ....................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.5 Relation with narratives of change ............................................................................................................................. 25 3.3 Aspects of empowerment and disempowerment of the transnational network .. 25 3.3.1 Governance ..........................................................................................................................................................................29 3.3.2 Social learning .....................................................................................................................................................................32 3.3.3 Resources ..............................................................................................................................................................................33 3.3.4 Monitoring and evaluation ............................................................................................................................................. 34 4 Local initiative 1: [Transition Town Totnes] ............................................ 34 4.1 Overview of development in the local initiative ................................................................. 34 4.2 Aspects of ‘innovation’ and ‘change’ of the local initiative............................................. 38 4.2.1 Relation with social innovation .................................................................................................................................... 38 4.2.2 Relation with system innovation ................................................................................................................................. 39 4.2.3 Relation with game-changers ........................................................................................................................................ 40 4.2.4 Relation with societal transformation ....................................................................................................................... 40 4.2.5 Relation with narratives of change ............................................................................................................................. 40 4.3 Aspects of empowerment and disempowerment of the local initiative ................... 41 4.3.1 Governance ..........................................................................................................................................................................41 4.3.2 Social learning .....................................................................................................................................................................45 4.3.3 Resources ..............................................................................................................................................................................46 4.3.4 Monitoring and evaluation ............................................................................................................................................. 47 5 Local initiative (2): [Transition Wekerle, Hungary] .............................. 48 5.1 Overview of development in the local initiative ................................................................. 48 5.2 Aspects of ‘innovation’ and ‘change’ of the local initiative............................................. 56 5.2.1 Relation with social innovation .................................................................................................................................... 56 5.2.2 Relation with system innovation ................................................................................................................................. 56 5.2.3 Relation with game-changers ........................................................................................................................................ 57 5.2.4 Relation with societal transformation ....................................................................................................................... 57 5.2.5 Relation with narratives of change ............................................................................................................................. 57 5.3 Aspects of empowerment and disempowerment of the local initiative ................... 58 5.3.1 Governance ..........................................................................................................................................................................59 Transit – Grant agreement n. 613169 – WP4 – CASE STUDY REPORT [Transition Movement] 4 5.3.2 Social learning .....................................................................................................................................................................61 5.3.3 Resources ..............................................................................................................................................................................61 5.3.4 Monitoring and evaluation ............................................................................................................................................. 62 6. Synthesis of case study ................................................................................... 63 6.1 Condensed time-line ...................................................................................................................... 65 6.2 Aspects of ‘innovation’ and ‘change’........................................................................................ 67 6.3 Aspects of empowerment and disempowerment .............................................................. 68 List of references .................................................................................................... 71 7. Annex 1: Bibliography of materials ............................................................ 72 7.1 Primary sources ............................................................................................................................... 72 7.2 Websites .............................................................................................................................................. 73 7.3 Secondary sources .........................................................................................................................
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