Towards a Natural Social Contract : Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation for a Sustainable, Healthy and Just Society

• VerfasserIn: Huntjens, Patrick.; Huntjens, Patrick 1974- Dutch sustainability expert
• Author: Huntjens, Patrick 1974- Dutch sustainability expert; Kemp, René 1961- Dutch eco-innovation expert
• Place / Publishing House: Cham : Springer International Publishing AG, 2021; ©2021.
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (212 pages); ill.

This open access book states that the societal fault lines of our times are deeply intertwined and that they confront us with challenges affecting the security, fairness and sustainability of our societies. The author, Prof. Dr. Patrick Huntjens, argues that overcoming these existential challenges will require a fundamental shift from our current anthropocentric and economic growth-oriented approach to a more ecocentric and regenerative approach. He advocates for a Natural Social Contract that emphasizes long-term sustainability and the general welfare of both humankind and planet Earth. Achieving this crucial balance calls for an end to unlimited economic growth, overconsumption and over-individualisation for the benefit of ourselves, our planet, and future generations. To this end, sustainability, health, and justice in all social-ecological systems will require systemic innovation and prioritizing a collective effort. The Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation (TSEI) framework presented in this book serves that cause. It helps to diagnose and advance innovation and spur change across sectors, disciplines, and at different levels of governance. Altogether, TSEI identifies intervention points and formulates jointly developed and shared solutions to inform policymakers, administrators, concerned citizens, and professionals dedicated towards a more sustainable, healthy and just society. A wide readership of students, researchers, practitioners and policy makers interested in social innovation, transition studies, development studies, social policy, social justice, climate change, environmental studies, political science and economics will find this cutting-edge book particularly useful. “As a sustainability transition researcher, I am truly excited about this book. Two unique aspects of the book are that it considers bigger transformation issues (such as societies’ relationship with nature, purpose and justice) than those studied in transition studies and offers analytical frameworks and methods for taking up the challenge of achieving change on the ground.” - Prof. Dr. René Kemp, United Nations University and Maastricht Sustainability Institute

Table of Contents

Intro -- Foreword by Prof. Dr. René Kemp -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- About the Author -- Part I: The Quest for a Natural Social Contract -- 1: Introduction -- 1.1 Reader´s Guide -- 2: Sustainability Transition: Quest for a New Social Contract -- 2.1 Paradox of Prosperity -- 2.2 Ecological Limits of Our Planet -- 2.3 Emerging Security and Justice Challenges -- 2.4 The Sustainability Transition: Humankind´s Quest for a New Social Contract -- 2.5 What´s Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals? -- 3: Towards a Natural Social Contract -- 3.1 What Is a Social Contract? -- 3.2 Human Progress Without Economic Growth? -- 3.3 Redesigning Economics Based on Ecology -- 3.4 Debate on Role and Scope of the Free Market -- 3.5 Anglo-Saxon Model Versus Rhineland Model -- 3.6 Looking for a New Social Contract -- 3.7 A Natural Social Contract -- 3.8 Dimensions and Crossovers Within a Natural Social Contract -- Social Dimension -- Nature Connects -- Ecological Dimension -- Economic Dimension -- Institutional Dimension -- 3.9 TSEI-Framework for Understanding and Advancing the Process Towards a Natural Social Contract -- 3.10 Development of a Natural Social Contract at Multiple Governance Levels -- Part II: Theories and Concepts -- 4: Conceptual Background of Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation -- 4.1 Definition of Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation (TSEI) -- 4.2 Transition Studies -- 4.3 Institutional Design Principles for Governing the Commons -- 4.4 Design Principles from Nature: Benchmarks for a Natural Social Contract -- 4.5 Complex (Adaptive) Systems -- 4.6 Adaptive, Reflexive, and Deliberative Approaches to Governance -- 4.7 Social Learning, Policy Learning, and Transformational Learning -- 4.8 Shared Value, Multiple Value Creation, and Mutual Gains -- 4.9 Effective Cooperation. AUTHOR

4.10 Transdisciplinary Approach, Living Labs, and Citizen Science -- 4.11 The Art of Co-creation: Approaches, Principles, and Pitfalls -- Part III: A Research and Innovation Agenda -- 5: Analytical Instruments for Studying TSEI -- 5.1 Analytical Framework for Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation (TSEI) -- 5.2 Power and Network Analysis -- 5.3 Framework for Analysing Different Levels of Collective Learning -- 5.4 Collaborative Action Research -- 6: Transition to a Sustainable and Healthy Agri-Food System -- 6.1 Challenges and Developments -- 6.2 NWA Programme `Transition to a Sustainable Food System´ -- 6.3 Nature-Inclusive and Regenerative Agriculture -- 6.4 Closing the Gaps Between Citizens, Farmers, and Nature -- 6.5 Measuring Sustainability and Health Aspects of Our Food Chains -- 6.6 South Holland Food Family: Transition Towards a Sustainable and Self-Sufficient Food System -- 7: Governance of Urban Sustainability Transitions -- 7.1 Urban Challenges and Developments -- 7.2 Climate-Resilient and Healthy Cities -- 7.3 Feeding and Greening Megacities -- 7.4 From Linear to Circular and Regenerative Cities -- 7.5 Collaboration for the City of the Future -- 8: Conclusion -- Correction to: Conceptual Background of Transformative Social-Ecological Innovation -- Correction to: Chapter 4 in: P. Huntjens, Towards a Natural Social Contract, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67130-3_4 -- References.