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Transformation and sustainability in agriculture pp 35–48Cite as

Social systems and social engineering: Niklas Luhmann

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Abstract

This chapter introduces a number of concepts from Niklas Luhmann’s social systems theory as they relate to innovation, transition and transition management. An understanding of Luhmann’s ideas on innovation and steering is essential to grasp a Luhmannian view of system innovation and transition management. Two levels of analysis are developed. The first level centres on the political system, pushing innovation and trying to manage transition, while the second level focuses on organisations and their attempts to innovate. Luhmann is eminently useful in relating the two levels and thus in laying the groundwork for a theory of innovation and transition. An analysis of the development of Dutch discourse on systems innovation, social engineering and transition management since the 1990s serves to illustrate and apply the social systems perspective. Finally, the chapter argues that modernist notions of steering pervading the governance system overestimate the role of governmental actors and underestimate other sources of innovation and systemic innovation that could be labeled ‘transition’.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Planning and Community Development Program, Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA

    Kristof van Assche

  2. Socio-spatial Analysis group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Martijn Duineveld

  3. Department of Sociology, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium

    Gert Verschraegen

  4. Cultural heritage and spatial planning, Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Roel During

  5. Land Use Planning group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Raoul Beunen

Authors
  1. Kristof van Assche
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  2. Martijn Duineveld
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  3. Gert Verschraegen
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  4. Roel During
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  5. Raoul Beunen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristof van Assche .

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Sietze Vellema

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© 2011 Wageningen Academic Publishers

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van Assche, K., Duineveld, M., Verschraegen, G., During, R., Beunen, R. (2011). Social systems and social engineering: Niklas Luhmann. In: Vellema, S. (eds) Transformation and sustainability in agriculture. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-717-2_3

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