Transforming a world that never stands still
Process-relational perspectives (PRP) have been put forward as a crucial contribution for conceptualizing radical transformations towards sustainability. This is because PRP conceptualize transformations as open processes. This openness is attributed, first, to processes and relations having perform...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Ecosystems and People |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2025.2469859 |
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| author | Tilman Hertz Anja Klein Maria Mancilla García Maja Schlüter |
| author_facet | Tilman Hertz Anja Klein Maria Mancilla García Maja Schlüter |
| author_sort | Tilman Hertz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Process-relational perspectives (PRP) have been put forward as a crucial contribution for conceptualizing radical transformations towards sustainability. This is because PRP conceptualize transformations as open processes. This openness is attributed, first, to processes and relations having performative power, which means that processes and relations are constitutive of elements. Second, PRP take processes and relations as continuously unfolding which means that elements taking part in transformations continuously change. Therefore, transformations are conceptualized beyond what elements are and do at a particular moment, setting PRP apart from other ways of conceptualizing transformations that don’t. This has an impact on transformative potential which for PRP is thus different (and perhaps more radical) than for the more conventional counterparts. Inquiring into the implications of tapping into this potential brings us to the topic of causation. Fostering transformation requires an understanding of the causal workings of systems. However, establishing causal links is difficult and for many, speaking of causation entails the risk of conveying a deterministic perspective inadequate for such a task. To avoid such risk, process-relational scholars urge us to rethink the concept of causation so that it can be mobilized to support a PRP on transformations. This paper takes the reader through a conceptual deep dive into process-relational understandings of transformation and causation. It encourages the reader to question conventional views of causation and ends by offering a process-relational take on theories of change (ToCs) that are often mobilized to foster transformations towards sustainability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-47e4b571dbbd49fcabc786306683f570 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2639-5908 2639-5916 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosystems and People |
| spelling | doaj-art-47e4b571dbbd49fcabc786306683f5702025-08-20T03:48:23ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEcosystems and People2639-59082639-59162025-12-0121110.1080/26395916.2025.2469859Transforming a world that never stands stillTilman Hertz0Anja Klein1Maria Mancilla García2Maja Schlüter3Stockholm Resilience Center (SRC), Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenIntegrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys) and Institute for European Ethnology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, GermanyStockholm Resilience Center (SRC), Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenStockholm Resilience Center (SRC), Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenProcess-relational perspectives (PRP) have been put forward as a crucial contribution for conceptualizing radical transformations towards sustainability. This is because PRP conceptualize transformations as open processes. This openness is attributed, first, to processes and relations having performative power, which means that processes and relations are constitutive of elements. Second, PRP take processes and relations as continuously unfolding which means that elements taking part in transformations continuously change. Therefore, transformations are conceptualized beyond what elements are and do at a particular moment, setting PRP apart from other ways of conceptualizing transformations that don’t. This has an impact on transformative potential which for PRP is thus different (and perhaps more radical) than for the more conventional counterparts. Inquiring into the implications of tapping into this potential brings us to the topic of causation. Fostering transformation requires an understanding of the causal workings of systems. However, establishing causal links is difficult and for many, speaking of causation entails the risk of conveying a deterministic perspective inadequate for such a task. To avoid such risk, process-relational scholars urge us to rethink the concept of causation so that it can be mobilized to support a PRP on transformations. This paper takes the reader through a conceptual deep dive into process-relational understandings of transformation and causation. It encourages the reader to question conventional views of causation and ends by offering a process-relational take on theories of change (ToCs) that are often mobilized to foster transformations towards sustainability.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2025.2469859Dominic LenziCausationsustainability transformationprocess-relational philosophyperformativityorganization |
| spellingShingle | Tilman Hertz Anja Klein Maria Mancilla García Maja Schlüter Transforming a world that never stands still Ecosystems and People Dominic Lenzi Causation sustainability transformation process-relational philosophy performativity organization |
| title | Transforming a world that never stands still |
| title_full | Transforming a world that never stands still |
| title_fullStr | Transforming a world that never stands still |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transforming a world that never stands still |
| title_short | Transforming a world that never stands still |
| title_sort | transforming a world that never stands still |
| topic | Dominic Lenzi Causation sustainability transformation process-relational philosophy performativity organization |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2025.2469859 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tilmanhertz transformingaworldthatneverstandsstill AT anjaklein transformingaworldthatneverstandsstill AT mariamancillagarcia transformingaworldthatneverstandsstill AT majaschluter transformingaworldthatneverstandsstill |