Between Deep Roots and a Broad Crown: Reflections on the Development of Sustainability Transitions as a Research Field

Abstract

In the final chapter of this handbook, we reflect on the development of sustainability transitions research (STR) by examining its origins, core focus, achievements, critiques, and future directions. Using the metaphor of a tree, we argue that STR has grown from deep roots in various disciplines to develop a broad crown of research branches, all connected by a shared focus on socio-technical change. The field’s rapid expansion brings both opportunities and challenges. While a common language fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, it also risks rigidity and exclusivity, highlighting a tension between cohesion and fragmentation. Additionally, disseminating STR findings into its foundational disciplines and addressing growing political and social responsibilities remain key challenges. STR forms a robust community while requiring ongoing (self-)reflection. Rather than defining its trajectory, we aim to foster dialogue on STR’s evolution, recognizing that, like a tree, research fields need continuous nurturing to remain vital and productive.