Sociotechnical transitions governance and public engagement

Abstract

Public engagement and participation at the research, development and deployment stages of new technologies, including energy technologies, has been the object of a gradually developing body of psychological work, having also been discussed for decades in science and technology studies. In sociotechnical transitions terms, transitions management views the engagement of a wide variety of stakeholders in policy development as a necessary element in furthering sustainability. Using the example of lower carbon transport innovation policy, this chapter discusses the connections between public opinion, public engagement and transitions pathway processes. It discusses how psychological surveying and opinion elicitation techniques might be adapted to provide information about sub-national differences in public opinion, and public opinion heterogeneity, for the purpose of informing policy.