Autonomous Innovations in Rural Communities in Developing Countries III-Leverage Points of Innovations and Enablers of Social-Ecological Transformation

Hidetomo Tajima (), Shion Takemura (), Juri Hori, Mitsutaku Makino and Tetsu Sato ()
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Hidetomo Tajima: Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Yokohama 221-8529, Japan
Shion Takemura: Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Yokohama 236-8648, Japan
Juri Hori: Lake Biwa Environmental Research Institute, Otsu 520-0022, Japan
Mitsutaku Makino: Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8564, Japan
Tetsu Sato: SDGs Promotion Office, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-27

Abstract: To address the complex and difficult challenges that are occurring in complex social-ecological systems, a transformation toward sustainable futures is required. Understanding the characteristics and functions of leverage points (LPs), which bring about significant changes in complex systems, will greatly contribute to the various practices toward achieving sustainable futures. We conducted a detailed analysis of 15 cases of autonomous innovations emerging among vulnerable sectors in six countries to contribute to understanding the mechanisms of transformation of social-ecological systems by identifying the characteristics and functions of LPs. We found that three types of LPs with different characteristics play their roles in a multi-layered and interrelated manner in the emergence processes of autonomous innovations. These LPs contributed to the improvement of various aspects of well-being and facilitated the transformation of the social-ecological systems by enhancing the five previously proposed enabler categories. The multi-layered and interrelated functioning of LPs promotes the enhancement of various aspects of human well-being and strengthens the enabler categories. These were found to be important mechanisms for the transformation of social-ecological systems. Based on these results, we derive nine guiding principles for the conditions and mechanisms of transformation. These results indicate that a deeper study of autonomous innovation through an LP lens could make a significant contribution to solving or mitigating the wicked problems faced by humanity.

Keywords: social-ecological system; innovator; vulnerable people; transdisciplinarity; human well-being; collective action; by-product; knowledge translation; guiding principles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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