Narratives of Socioecological Transition: The Case of the Transition Network in Portugal. Issue 2 (1st June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferreira, Vera; Carvalho, António
• Is Part Of: Nature + culture. Volume 16:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2021-06-01
• Subjects: citizen engagement -- climate change -- grassroots innovations -- Portuguese environmentalism -- sustainability transitions -- Transition Network; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Nature and civilization -- Periodicals; 306
• DOI: 10.3167/nc.2020.160203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-6073

Abstract

Abstract: This article explores narratives and characteristics of sociological transitions displayed by members of the Transition Network (TN) in Portugal. It is informed by scholarly work on grassroots innovations, sociological transition narratives, and environmental engagement in Portugal. It furthers this research in three ways: (1) it analyzes an original case study—the Portuguese TN; (2) it identifies and defines the various socioecological narratives conveyed by its participants; and (3) it interprets the TN's sociopolitical appeal as a grassroots innovation in the context of environmental mobilization in Portugal. Drawing on 20 semistructured interviews with current and former members of the Portuguese TN, three narratives of sociological transition were identified—utopianism, inevitability, and pessimism—as well as seven characteristics that motivated interviewees' engagement with the TN.