Participation, value rationality and mutual learning in transdisciplinary knowledge production for sustainable development

Abstract

Given the complexity of current social structures and environmental problems, attaining a truly sustainable society seems rather improbable today. Not only has society not been planned for the complexity of the preconditions and effects that sustainability entails, sustainability is also unlikely given current individual consumption patterns, prevailing economic worldviews, and the short‐term focus of political processes. In this context, transdisciplinary research is seen more and more as key to attaining social change towards sustainability. In order to do this, non‐academic actors must be extensively involved in knowledge production, and normative considerations have to be explicitly incorporated. This paper targets three key areas for discussion. These are participation, value rationality and mutual learning. The interactions of participation and value rationalities through mutual learning processes are developed through two examples of ongoing transdisciplinary research and collaboration in Western Sweden.

Keywords:

• transdisciplinarity research
• sustainable development
• participation
• mutual learning
• value rationality

Notes

1. Examples of such value rationalities are: ecological modernization, market‐based capitalism, global justice and equality, environmental protectionism, and individualism.

2. For a recent review of this criticism see Hessels and Van Lente (2008).

3. Transdisciplinarity as representing some sort of unity/coherence of knowledge is present in many different subjects such as that presented in Nowotny, Scott and Gibbons (2001). Other examples include urban studies (Ramadier 2004), health (Schensul, Natasi, and Verma 2006), and on the role of transdisciplinarity in university education (Max‐Neef 2005) to name but a few diverse examples.

4. The HUR 2050 research collaboration at The University of Gothenburg is funded by a Mistra program on sustainable transport. For more information see TransportMistra.org.

5. An analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Limitations.