Framework problems and their future expansion directions of the international studies on geographies of sustainability transitions

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.06.20260122

Abstract

Abstract:

The paper centers on key conceptual frameworks and their geographical applications in the international literature on sustainability transitions. Through a systematic and critical review of the English-speaking journal articles relating to sustainability transitions, the paper aims to comprehensively identify and examine six core conceptual frameworks currently being employed in this field. They are, namely, Strategic Niche Management, Transition Management, Multi-level Perspective, Technological Innovation Systems, Transition Agency and Change in Sustainability Transitions, and Global Innovation Systems. This review paper uncovers the advantages and limitations of these conceptual frameworks/perspectives, highlighting the problems of each framework and particularly the insufficient explanatory power owing to the facts of poorly or not integrating key geographical concepts into these frameworks. Building on such critique, the paper explores five core geographical concepts (space, scale, nature, power, and justice), and analyzes their comparative advantages when doing research on geographies of sustainability transitions. It also proposes potential directions and methodologies for how to properly integrate geographical concepts into the existing frameworks. Furthermore, this paper identifies several key gaps in the existing literature on geographies of sustainability transitions, by suggesting to engage more with the concept of spatial justice. It is particularly argued that regional inequalities should be placed at the core for future studies on geographies of sustainability transitions.

Key words: sustainability transitions, geographies of sustainability transitions, theoretical frameworks and perspectives, integrated expansion, critical review

摘要：

本文聚焦国际可持续转型研究及其地理应用的概念框架问题，通过对当前该领域国际英文期刊论文的系统梳理和分析，旨在对当前国际该领域使用的六大核心概念框架（含战略利基管理、转型管理、多层次视角、技术创新系统、转型能动性及动态和全球创新系统）进行综合比较，从而揭示当前研究领域的视角框架特征和问题，特别指出当前研究存在的视角单一化问题，以及地理概念在理解与应用中解释力的不足。基于此，本文分别探讨了空间、尺度、自然、权力和公正五大地理学核心概念，并分析了它们融入转型地理研究框架的比较优势，进而提出地理概念更有效融入现有视角框架的可能方向。此外，本文指出当前转型地理研究在整合空间公正方面存在的不足，强调应将区域发展不平等问题置于研究的核心位置。

关键词: 可持续转型, 转型地理, 理论框架与视角, 整合拓展, 文献批判

Xiaohui HU, Yuchen WEI, Ke DONG. Framework problems and their future expansion directions of the international studies on geographies of sustainability transitions[J]. World Regional Studies, 2026, 35(6): 68-83.

胡晓辉, 魏宇晨, 董柯. 国际可持续转型地理研究框架问题与拓展方向[J]. 世界地理研究, 2026, 35(6): 68-83.

Figures/Tables 5

References 79

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理论框架或视角	代表文章	核心观点	分析目标	实践目标	转型阶段	转型维度
战略利基管理 (SNM)	Kemp 等(1998)	技术变革主导技术制度的转型，融合了工程实践和社会规则与信念	理解技术变革如何融入并影响塑造主导技术制度	为政策制定者确定方向，分析技术-制度转型过程	初始阶段：创新的兴起和利基的形成	技术创新
转型管理 (TM)	Rotmans 等(2001)	将转型视为社会变革，转型是存量长期发展和流量短期发展的结果	分析转型的社会和制度层面，及制度变化对转型的影响	明确转型管理策略与目标，克服长期目标与短期目标的冲突	所有过程如下：渐进变化和长期视角	公共政策设计
多层次视角 (MLP)	Geels (2002)	转型是创新利基、社会-技术体制和远景三个层面的社会-技术系统转型	多层次视角作为理解技术转型的分析和启发式框架	识别转型过程特征和机制，理解惯性，确定如何克服	所有过程：不同层次因果互动的渐进变化	多层次维度
技术创新系统 (TIS)	Hekkert 等(2007)	技术变革是一个社会动态过程，基于创新系统的转型和企业家的行动	识别创新系统的功能，聚焦系统中实现技术变革的过程	随时间绘制这些功能，以刺激和引导创新及技术变革	初始阶段：创造创新	技术变革
转型能动性及动态(ACST)	Udo & Pesch (2015)	基于行动者的方法，研究个体动机以及话语在可持续转型中的作用	提出话语锚定概念，以理解创新形成和规模扩大过程	开展新的实证研究，聚焦于行动者在转型中的作用	创新的形成(利基)及其规模的扩大过程	个体能动性和话语
全球创新系统 (GIS)	Binz &Truffer (2017)	强调多尺度网络作用以及不同行业创新过程和转型推动的系统性差异	理解全球层面创新的关键资源创建和整合，以制定政策	提出可操作的系统关联性视角，分析跨国背景下技术创新的关联共演过程	所有过程	行业领域和全球维度

理论框架或视角	代表文章	核心观点	分析目标	实践目标	转型阶段	转型维度
战略利基管理 (SNM)	Kemp 等(1998)	技术变革主导技术制度的转型，融合了工程实践和社会规则与信念	理解技术变革如何融入并影响塑造主导技术制度	为政策制定者确定方向，分析技术-制度转型过程	初始阶段：创新的兴起和利基的形成	技术创新
转型管理 (TM)	Rotmans 等(2001)	将转型视为社会变革，转型是存量长期发展和流量短期发展的结果	分析转型的社会和制度层面，及制度变化对转型的影响	明确转型管理策略与目标，克服长期目标与短期目标的冲突	所有过程如下：渐进变化和长期视角	公共政策设计
多层次视角 (MLP)	Geels (2002)	转型是创新利基、社会-技术体制和远景三个层面的社会-技术系统转型	多层次视角作为理解技术转型的分析和启发式框架	识别转型过程特征和机制，理解惯性，确定如何克服	所有过程：不同层次因果互动的渐进变化	多层次维度
技术创新系统 (TIS)	Hekkert 等(2007)	技术变革是一个社会动态过程，基于创新系统的转型和企业家的行动	识别创新系统的功能，聚焦系统中实现技术变革的过程	随时间绘制这些功能，以刺激和引导创新及技术变革	初始阶段：创造创新	技术变革
转型能动性及动态(ACST)	Udo & Pesch (2015)	基于行动者的方法，研究个体动机以及话语在可持续转型中的作用	提出话语锚定概念，以理解创新形成和规模扩大过程	开展新的实证研究，聚焦于行动者在转型中的作用	创新的形成(利基)及其规模的扩大过程	个体能动性和话语
全球创新系统 (GIS)	Binz &Truffer (2017)	强调多尺度网络作用以及不同行业创新过程和转型推动的系统性差异	理解全球层面创新的关键资源创建和整合，以制定政策	提出可操作的系统关联性视角，分析跨国背景下技术创新的关联共演过程	所有过程	行业领域和全球维度

框架名称	空间提及	核心论文中有关空间的定义	概念理解
战略利基管理	明确提及	利基是技术创新的受保护空间/空间是技术适应的合适制度环境/空间是新技术的试错场所	抽象概念/社会-制度场所
转型管理	未提及	论文中未提及空间相关内容	缺失
多层次视角	明确提及	利基为构建支持创新的社会网络和合法性提供空间/远景则是指社会的物质背景和结构性空间安排	抽象概念/社会-制度场所
技术创新系统	未提及/模糊	创新依赖于全球各地研究取得的进展和扩散吸收	背景
转型能动性与变革	明确提及	空间是行动者可以引发变化并创建新观点和制度化过程的话语场所	抽象概念
全球创新系统	明确提及	创新系统的空间配置基于行动者网络和制度，而非地理边界和区位	抽象概念

框架名称	空间提及	核心论文中有关空间的定义	概念理解
战略利基管理	明确提及	利基是技术创新的受保护空间/空间是技术适应的合适制度环境/空间是新技术的试错场所	抽象概念/社会-制度场所
转型管理	未提及	论文中未提及空间相关内容	缺失
多层次视角	明确提及	利基为构建支持创新的社会网络和合法性提供空间/远景则是指社会的物质背景和结构性空间安排	抽象概念/社会-制度场所
技术创新系统	未提及/模糊	创新依赖于全球各地研究取得的进展和扩散吸收	背景
转型能动性与变革	明确提及	空间是行动者可以引发变化并创建新观点和制度化过程的话语场所	抽象概念
全球创新系统	明确提及	创新系统的空间配置基于行动者网络和制度，而非地理边界和区位	抽象概念

框架名称	存在情况	尺度的定义	尺度之间的关系
战略利基管理	未提及	创新在被称为利基的地方尺度上产生，利基被定义为“新技术的本地培育空间”。利基管理政策的目标是扩大创新规模	线性-公共政策应用
转型管理	明确提及	转型在3个层次(微观、中观和宏观)展开。这些层面与利基、制度和远景概念相关	线性-政府的作用
多层次视角	明确提及	转型被定义为在微观利基、中观体制和宏观远景这3个层面上的变异、选择、保留和重配过程	线性-合法化过程
技术创新系统	未提及	最重要的过程发生在微观层面(创新系统的功能形成尺度)	线性-倡导网络联盟
转型能动性与动态	明确提及	存在不同程度的话语固定层面。行动者在利基层面比在制度层面更易识别	线性-意见分享扩散
全球创新系统	明确提及	创新的关键系统资源在全球、本地和国家层面创建	多尺度关联与同时性