Achieving sustainability requires major changes in several areas in which society makes use of technology to meet human needs and while doing so influences the environment, such as agriculture, mobility, power production and water management. The awareness of a need for radical changes is accompanied by an increasing recognition of the interconnectedness of technological, socio-cultural and environmental elements and processes. This has led to an increasing amount of research on system innovations. System innovations refer to changes to a "structurally different" system involving radical changes in the technological and socio-cultural domains and are often contrasted to incremental (technological) change. System innovations involve many actors and many factors, and developments at multiple levels interact. Control over such processes is distributed, they are laden with uncertainty and they exhibit sometimes surprising and unexpected behaviour due to non-linear dynamics and emergent properties involved. Our current understanding of system innovations is limited and the need for an enhanced understanding has clearly been recognized. Computer simulation models seem a promising tool to that end as they already proved to be useful to enhance the understanding of complex systems in many fields like complex chemistry, ecosystems and physics. However, system innovations are mostly processes in social systems. In the social sciences, the application of formal simulation models has a far shorter history and the availability of formalized (and widely accepted) theories and generalizations is low compared to the natural sciences. It is thus not clear-cut which role computer simulation models can play with respect to system innovations. This thesis fathoms the potential of computer simulation models for enhancing our understanding of system innovations and takes some first steps towards fruitful application of models. A theoretical and methodological discussion outlines how models can in principle contribute to an understanding of social macro-processes through facilitating a causal reconstruction of processes that account for the respective observed phenomenon. The view adopted regarding the representation of the social world thereby is that of reciprocity of agency and structure. Compared to the sociological literature the perspective is extended beyond comprising actors and institutions but encompasses also other entities, especially technological artefacts. The thesis then relates the current state of empirical and conceptual work in the field of transition research (the terms "transition" and "system innovation" are used interchangeably) to insights from modelling of complex systems. The intrinsic characteristics of system innovations and the knowledge base available to study them are explicated and implicated challenges and opportunities for model application are discussed. This is complemented by a review of the few existing models of system innovations. The thesis further develops a specification of the regime concept. A regime refers to a dominant structure which originates incremental change but resists system innovations. The concept of "regime" is at the heart of the multi-level perspective, the most widely used framework of transition research, but it is yet only loosely defined. The absence of shared definitions, concept specifications and operationalizations of key concepts of transition research is a major obstacle for defining (and especially for comparing) models. In this thesis, five defining characteristics of regimes are developed and a method to structure and graphically represent knowledge about a regime is introduced. Furthermore, theoretical and conceptual work has been complemented by hands-on experience to make methodological and theoretical deliberations tangible. An agent-based model has been developed which addresses the transition from rainfed to irrigated agriculture in the Upper Guadiana, Spain. The purpose of the model is to bridge a gap in the explanation for the observed process. Case specific literature provides information on driving forces (technological development, changes in regulations) and consequences (amount of irrigation). The model focuses on the farmers which "translate" driving forces into practices of irrigation and water use. It studies the effect of weights farmers attach to a list of priorities. The main findings are that interactions of factors have to be considered and that it is important to acknowledge heterogeneity of farm types to understand empirically observed land-use changes. Based on the outlined work, different possibilities to model system innovations have been abstracted and discussed with respect to their advantages and limitations: a) functional subsystems, b) interacting structures (niches, regimes and landscape) as suggested by the multi-level perspective and c) micro-level entities (actors, technological artefacts, institutions, etc.). None of these representations is superior to the other ones per se but each features certain advantages and drawbacks. The model purpose is a necessary guideline to choose an appropriate representation and to distinguish those parts and aspects of a system which need to be captured from negligible ones. The main findings of this thesis can be summarized as follows: System innovations feature several characteristics which put model-based approaches to this topic on the most challenging edge of the broader endeavour of understanding and modelling social systems. Those are the significance of emergent decay and re-creation of structure during system innovations; the vast scope of system innovations involving several types of subsystems (consumption, production, governance, and nature); the intertwinement of system innovations with their governance – a field which is hardly accessible to modelling; the complexity of the topic; and the unpredictability of innovations. Still, it is concluded that models can be useful as thinking tools. In any case, given the complexity of the topic and the underdeveloped knowledge base, adhering to transparency is essential. In a field as vast and complex as system innovations this requires either very strong simplifications or restricting a model's scope to some parts or aspects of an overall process. This thesis proposes to make use of existing building blocks of understanding of an intermediate level of complexity – e.g. timing and kind of multi-level interactions - to define abstractions and model scope. The challenge to identify, specify, understand and relate conceptual building blocks, to identify the contexts and situations in which each of them becomes relevant and to explicate their role in the overall system innovation could be an agenda for transition modelling for the coming years. Modelling system innovations will remain a huge challenge in the near future. However, this thesis fathoms that models can be valuable tools contributing to the enhancement of the knowledge base of the field; little by little adding to answers of the "big questions". The specific role(s) models of system innovations can play in this endeavour needs to be further explored and discussed.

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Die Arbeit analysiert den sozioökonomischen Wandel auf dem Lande in Ostdeutschland und seine Folgen für die Sozialisation und die Statuspassagen der Jugendlichen, besonders auf dem Hintergrund der sozialökonomischen Lage ihrer Familien. Gegenstand der Untersuchung ist der Übersetzungsprozess der grundlegenden Transformation der Arbeits- und Lebensverhältnisse auf dem Lande in die familialen und weiteren Sozialisationskontexte von Jugendlichen sowie dessen Niederschlag in ihren Handlungsmustern, Wertorientierungen, Lebensentwürfen und Statuspassagen. Untersucht wurden auf der Basis repräsentativer schriftlicher Befragungen sowie einer Auswahl mündlicher Interviews Jugendliche, die sich am Ende ihrer Normalschulzeit befinden, und deren Eltern. Ihren besonderen Reiz erfährt die Untersuchung durch einen Vergleich zu einer Untersuchung, die Ende der 70er Jahre zu Lebensbedingungen und zur Lebensweise von Schuljugendlichen auf dem Lande in der DDR durchgeführt wurde. / This habilitation is examined the radical socioeconomic change in agrarian districts of East Germany and the impact of this modernisation process on the working and living conditions of families, and especially the young people. The study scrutinises the status passage of the young generation (16 to 18 year old school leavers) on the backround of the socioeconomic situation of their families. It takes into account the familial and life world context of the socialisation process and looks at the status passage from school to work as a process of translating the changing social conditions into patterns of value orientation, life course planning, and biography construction. Representative questionings and interviews of the young people and their parents are the empirical basis for this study. The special charm of this research project is the historical comparison with studies on life conditions and ways of life of young people in the GDR during the 70s.

Die Arbeit leistet einen Beitrag zur Begründung einer pädagogischen Theorie der Verständigung in modernen Gesellschaften. Sie entfaltet ihre historischen und systematischen Überlegungen in zwei Teilen: Im ersten Teil wird die Erziehungskonzeption von J.-J. Rousseau analysiert. Vor dem Hintergrund seiner biografischen Entwicklung (Kapitel 1) und der Analyse des "Gesellschaftsvertrages" (Kapitel 2), wird in Kapitel 3 Rousseaus Erziehungstheorie dargestellt. Deren Besonderheit liegt darin, das Spannungsverhältnis von Ontogenese und Bildungsgenese zum Drehpunkt des Erziehungsvertrages gemacht zu haben. Dies ermöglichte ihm, ein Stufenkonzept der entwicklungsangemessenen Formen der Subjektförderung zu begründen; nämlich: Fürsorge und natürliche Elementarerziehung; negative Erziehung; sokratischer Dialog und Handwerkserziehung; natürliche Moralerziehung; Erziehung zur Geschlechtsidentität. Der Beitrag Rousseaus zu einer Theorie der pädagogischen Verständigung erschließt sich allerdings erst im textrekonstruktiven Verfahren mit folgenden Stufen: Explikation des Vorverständnisses der Interpretin; argumentativer Nachvollzug des Textes; Herausarbeitung immanenter Widersprüchlichkeiten, die aus der naturrechtlichen Verankerung dieser Erziehungskonzeption resultieren; Aufhebung der bleibenden konzeptionellen Momente in einer pädagogischen Verständigungstheorie. Der zweite Teil beschäftigt sich mit den aktuellen Diskussionen zur Subjektentwicklung in der "zweiten Moderne". Dazu wird in Kapitel 4 die Theorieentwicklung der Kritischen Psychologie und ihre Beziehungen zur Psychoanalyse und zur Phänomenologie analysiert, zentrale systematische Widersprüche herausgearbeitet und jene Theorieelemente identifiziert, die in einem pädagogisch relevanten intersubjektiven Verständigungskonzept aufzuheben sind. Im abschließenden Kapitel 5 werden die gewonnenen begrifflichen Ergebnisse angewendet auf die Analyse der Bedingungen und Verlaufsformen der alltäglichen Lebensführung in der reflexiv gewordenen Moderne.

No description available.

Die Arbeit leistet einen Beitrag zur Begründung einer pädagogischen Theorie der Verständigung in modernen Gesellschaften. Sie entfaltet ihre historischen und systematischen Überlegungen in zwei Teilen: Im ersten Teil wird die Erziehungskonzeption von J.-J. Rousseau analysiert. Vor dem Hintergrund seiner biografischen Entwicklung (Kapitel 1) und der Analyse des "Gesellschaftsvertrages" (Kapitel 2), wird in Kapitel 3 Rousseaus Erziehungstheorie dargestellt. Deren Besonderheit liegt darin, das Spannungsverhältnis von Ontogenese und Bildungsgenese zum Drehpunkt des Erziehungsvertrages gemacht zu haben. Dies ermöglichte ihm, ein Stufenkonzept der entwicklungsangemessenen Formen der Subjektförderung zu begründen; nämlich: Fürsorge und natürliche Elementarerziehung; negative Erziehung; sokratischer Dialog und Handwerkserziehung; natürliche Moralerziehung; Erziehung zur Geschlechtsidentität. Der Beitrag Rousseaus zu einer Theorie der pädagogischen Verständigung erschließt sich allerdings erst im textrekonstruktiven Verfahren mit folgenden Stufen: Explikation des Vorverständnisses der Interpretin; argumentativer Nachvollzug des Textes; Herausarbeitung immanenter Widersprüchlichkeiten, die aus der naturrechtlichen Verankerung dieser Erziehungskonzeption resultieren; Aufhebung der bleibenden konzeptionellen Momente in einer pädagogischen Verständigungstheorie. Der zweite Teil beschäftigt sich mit den aktuellen Diskussionen zur Subjektentwicklung in der "zweiten Moderne". Dazu wird in Kapitel 4 die Theorieentwicklung der Kritischen Psychologie und ihre Beziehungen zur Psychoanalyse und zur Phänomenologie analysiert, zentrale systematische Widersprüche herausgearbeitet und jene Theorieelemente identifiziert, die in einem pädagogisch relevanten intersubjektiven Verständigungskonzept aufzuheben sind. Im abschließenden Kapitel 5 werden die gewonnenen begrifflichen Ergebnisse angewendet auf die Analyse der Bedingungen und Verlaufsformen der alltäglichen Lebensführung in der reflexiv gewordenen Moderne.

In dieser Studie werden Einstellungen zu sozialer Ungleichheit bzw. Gerechtigkeitseinstellungen und die Wahrnehmung von Einkommensungerechtigkeit durch die Bevölkerung in postkommunistischen und westlich-kapitalistischen Ländern zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten untersucht. Im Zentrum stehen vor allem die Determinanten dieser subjektiven Bewertungen und Wahrnehmungen auf der Makro-Ebene. Wie lassen sich Unterschiede in den Einstellungen und Wahrnehmungen zwischen Ländern erklären? Für westliche Länder wird davon ausgegangen, dass im Wesentlichen der Wohlfahrtsstaat als zentrales Verteilungsarrangement jeweils prägend wirkt. Um den Einfluss des Wohlfahrtsstaates zu überprüfen, wird einerseits eine Typologie wohlfahrtsstaatlicher Regime herangezogen. Andererseits wird auch der Einfluss wohlfahrtsstaatsbezogener Makroindikatoren als nähere Charakterisierung der ausgewählten Länder getestet, was in der international vergleichenden Einstellungsforschung bislang vernachlässigt wurde. In postkommunistischen Ländern, die seit dem Systemwechsel im Vergleich zu westlichen Ländern nicht durch lange wohlfahrtsstaatliche Traditionen geprägt wurden, stehen eher die unterschiedlichen Transformationsverläufe als Erklärungshintergrund von Einstellungs- und Wahrnehmungsunterschieden auf Makro-Ebene zur Verfügung. Da die objektiven Strukturen, Institutionen und individuellen Lagen in postkommunistischen Ländern einem stärkeren sozialen Wandel unterlagen, ist hier im Gegensatz zu westlichen Ländern auch mit einem entsprechend stärkeren Wandel der Gerechtigkeitseinstellungen und Bewertungen zu rechnen. Die Daten für diese Studie stammen aus zwei internationalen Umfrageprojekten, dem ''International Social Justice Project'' (ISJP) von 1991, 1996 und 2000 sowie dem ''International Social Survey Programme'' (ISSP) von 1987, 1992 und 1999. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich Gerechtigkeitseinstellungen, die als normative Grundhaltungen von Menschen eher prinzipieller Art sind, besser durch wohlfahrtsstaatliche Regimes erklären lassen, die diese Grundhaltungen institutionell inkorporieren und strukturell transportieren, während subjektive Wahrnehmungen von Einkommensungerechtigkeit besser durch konkretere wohlfahrtsstaatliche Makroindikatoren beeinflusst werden. / This study analyzes attitudes towards social inequality, justice ideologies and the perceived amount of injustice with respect to the distribution of income in post-communist and western-capitalist countries at different times, with a specific focus on the macro level determinants of subjective judgements and perceptions. How can country differences with respect to subjective judgements and perceptions be explained? One can assume that, for western countries, the welfare state is the main distribution arrangement shaping these subjective aspects. In order to analyze the influence of the welfare state, a typology of welfare state regimes is developed. In addition, the effects of macro indicators of the welfare state, conceptualized as more specific characteristics of the selected countries, are tested, which has been previously neglected in cross-national attitude research. In post-communist countries, which were not shaped by long national welfare state traditions as much as in western countries, the different transformation processes and their success are more suitable for explaining divergent macro-level attitudes and perceptions. As objective structures, institutions and the individual situations in post-communist countries have gone through a stronger process of social change than in western countries, a stronger change in justice attitudes, evaluations and perceptions can be accounted here accordingly. Data for this study come from two international survey projects, the ''International Social Justice Project'' (ISJP) 1991, 1996 and 2000 and the ''International Social Survey Programme'' (ISSP) 1987, 1992 and 1999. The results demonstrate that justice attitudes, which are rather basic normative attitudes, can be better explained by welfare state regimes which incorporate these basic attitudes institutionally and transport them structurally, whereas subjective perceptions, such as the perception of social injustice with respect to the income distribution, are affected by more concrete welfare related macro indicators.

Durch den rasanten wirtschaftlichen, kulturellen und sozialen Wandel im Zuge der Globalisierung verändern sich die Bedingungen unter denen Unternehmen produzieren grundlegend. Weltweite Konkurrenz um innovative Produkte, globale Absatzmärkte, flexible Fertigungsnetzwerke sowie internationale Kooperationen sind zentrale Kennzeichen neuer Arbeits- und Produktionswelten. Die Zeitschrift zur interdisziplinären Organisationsentwicklung, kurz ZIO, greift die vielschichtigen Probleme des sozialen Wandels in Organisationen auf. Ihr geht es um eine theoretisch fundierte, disziplinübergreifende Analyse von Organisationskulturen und um den Transfer der Erkenntnisse in die Praxis. Demnach richtet sich die Zeitschrift nicht nur an Forschende, sondern soll ferner auch eine Handreichung für Betriebspraktiker sein. Ziel ist es, eine Vertrautheit mit den spezifischen Problemlagen in Organisationen herzustellen und Unternehmen so zu befähigen, sich adäquat auf Veränderungen einstellen zu können.

Durch den rasanten wirtschaftlichen, kulturellen und sozialen Wandel im Zuge der Globalisierung verändern sich die Bedingungen unter denen Unternehmen produzieren grundlegend. Weltweite Konkurrenz um innovative Produkte, globale Absatzmärkte, flexible Fertigungsnetzwerke sowie internationale Kooperationen sind zentrale Kennzeichen neuer Arbeits- und Produktionswelten. Die Zeitschrift zur interdisziplinären Organisationsentwicklung, kurz ZIO, greift die vielschichtigen Probleme des sozialen Wandels in Organisationen auf. Ihr geht es um eine theoretisch fundierte, disziplinübergreifende Analyse von Organisationskulturen und um den Transfer der Erkenntnisse in die Praxis. Demnach richtet sich die Zeitschrift nicht nur an Forschende, sondern soll ferner auch eine Handreichung für Betriebspraktiker sein. Ziel ist es, eine Vertrautheit mit den spezifischen Problemlagen in Organisationen herzustellen und Unternehmen so zu befähigen, sich adäquat auf Veränderungen einstellen zu können.

A fundamental change in societal values and economic structures is required to address increasing pressures on ecosystems and natural resources. Transition research has developed in the last decades to analyze the co-dynamics of technological, institutional, social and economic elements in the provision of key functions such as energy, water and food supply. This doctoral dissertation provides conceptual and methodological contributions to the pro-active governance of sustainability transitions. Three research gaps are identified that are addressed in this dissertation. First, a comprehensive conceptualization of learning in sustainability transitions is currently missing that comprises learning at multiple societal levels (ranging from individuals to policy-actors). Learning concepts are often not explicitly discussed in transition research even though learning is considered as fundamental for innovation processes, niche formation and development as well as breakthrough and diffusion of innovations. Second, methods for the analysis and design of transition governance processes are lacking that specify case-specific intervention points and roles of actors in the implementation of innovations. Third, participatory modeling approaches are only applied to a limited extent in transition research despite a high potential for supporting communication and learning. The conceptualization of multi-level learning developed in this doctoral research conceptualizes learning at different societal levels as specific learning contexts ranging from individual and group contexts to organizational and policy contexts. The conceptual framework further differentiates between learning processes, intensity, objects, outcomes, subjects and factors, allowing for a more detailed analysis of learning within and across learning contexts. Thus, learning contexts can be linked by processes that involve actors from different learning contexts (e.g., community groups and policy-makers), as well as exchanges of physical aspects, institutions and knowledge (in the form of ‘learning factors’). This research has also provided a classification of model uses in transition research that supports a purposeful discussion of the opportunities of modeling and promising future research directions. The methodology developed in this doctoral research aims at the analysis and design of transition governance processes by specifying the various opportunities to contribute to sustainability transitions through purposeful action at different societal levels, as well as related roles of stakeholders in implementing such processes of change. The methodology combines different streams of previous research: 1) a participatory modeling approach to identify problem perceptions, case-specific sustainability innovations as well as related implementation barriers, drivers and responsibilities; 2) a systematic review to identify supportive and impeding learning factors from the general literature that can complement case-specific factors; and 3) a method for the analysis and design of case-specific transition governance processes. Three case studies in Canada (topic: sustainable food systems), Cyprus (water-energy-food nexus) and Germany (sustainable heating supply) have been selected to test and iteratively develop the methodology described above. The results for each case study reveal that there are learning objects (i.e., learning requirements) in all learning contexts, which underscores the importance of multi-level learning in sustainability transitions, ranging from the individual to the group, organizational and policy levels. Actors have various opportunities to actively facilitate societal transformations towards sustainable development either directly through actions at their particular societal levels (i.e., context-internal learning) or indirectly through actions that influence learning at other societal levels. In fact, most of the learning factors require cooperation across learning contexts during the implementation process. The comparing of learning factors across case studies underline the importance of several factor categories, such as ‘physical a ‘disturbance or crisis’, ‘information and knowledge’. Of the 206 factors identified by stakeholders, 40 factors are case-specific and not contained in the general, review-based factor list. This underscores the value of participatory research, as general, top-down analyses might have overlooked these case-specific factors. The methodology presented in this dissertation allows for the identification and analysis of case-specific intervention points for sustainability transitions at multiple societal levels. The methodology furthermore permits the analysis of interplay between individual, group, organizational and policy actions, which is a first step towards their coordination. The focus on sustainability innovations links the broad topic of sustainability transitions to a set of opportunities for practical interventions and overcoming their implementation barriers. The methodology presented allows for the analysis and design of these interlinkages between learning contexts. While the methodology cannot provide any ‘silver bullets’ for inducing sustainability transitions, it is flexible enough to identify an appropriate abstraction level for analyzing and designing transition governance processes. The methodology developed in this doctoral research also provides several contributions for the development of participatory modeling methods in transition research. Thus, the participatory method supports an integrated analysis of barriers and drivers of sustainability innovations, and allows application in practice and education. The concepts and methods developed in this research project allow for reflection on transition governance processes from a systemic viewpoint. Experiences in the case studies underline the applicability of the concepts and methods developed for the analysis of case-specific transition governance processes. Despite substantial differences in the geographic location, culture and topics addressed, all case studies include promising sustainability innovations and the engagement of multiple actors in their implementation. The diversity and multitude of initiatives in the case study regions provides an optimistic outlook on future opportunities for large-scale sustainability transitions.