Metatheoretical Perspectives on Sustainability Journeys: Evolutionary, Relational and Durational

Garud, Raghu; Gehman, Joel

Metatheoretical Perspectives on Sustainability Journeys: Evolutionary, Relational and Durational

Research Policy, Forthcoming

53 Pages Posted: 7 Sep 2011 Last revised: 7 Apr 2014

See all articles by Raghu Garud

Joel Gehman

University of Alberta - Department of Strategic Management and Organization

Date Written: April 1, 2012

Abstract

Journeys to a sustainable future have become important to industry, government and research. In this paper, we examine evolutionary, relational and durational perspectives on sustainability journeys. Each perspective emphasizes different facets of sustainability – shifts in selection environments, reconfigurations of emergent networks, and intertemporal comparisons and contrasts. Drawing on our analysis, we discuss implications for sustainability policy, strategy and research.

Keywords: sustainability transitions, multilevel perspective, path dependence, path creation, dynamic capabilities, actor-network theory, narratives

JEL Classification: D9, D90, M1, M13, O3, O32, O33, O38, Q2, Q28

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Garud, Raghu and Gehman, Joel, Metatheoretical Perspectives on Sustainability Journeys: Evolutionary, Relational and Durational (April 1, 2012). Research Policy, Forthcoming. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1923709