Agricultural policy and the destabilization of socio-technical regimes

Studies on the governance of sustainability transformations often focus on innovation, in line with the general orientation of transformation research. However, the possible consequences of the persistence of existing socio-technical regimes for sustainable change in various sectors, as well as possible measures to destabilize them (e.g., through exnovation or phase-out measures), have received significantly less scientific and political attention to date. However, these factors can sometimes be just as important for the success of the politically desired change as innovations, as demonstrated by the example of the nuclear phase-out in Germany. In his dissertation project, Dr. Leonard Frank examined the extent to which concepts and approaches for destabilizing existing socio-technical regimes in agriculture are taken into account in the reformulation of European agricultural policy and what this says about the chances of realizing the promised agricultural transition.

Results:

• Frank, L. & Schanz, H. (2025). Policy for regime destabilisation in CAP Strategic plans assessing the transformative ambition of France’s and Germany’s implementations of the Common agricultural policy. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2025.2523101
• Frank, L., Feola, G., & Schäpke, N. (2024). Assessing regime destabilisation through policy change: An analysis of agricultural policy in the United Kingdom during Brexit. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 50, 100810. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2024.100810
• Frank, L., & Schanz, H. (2022). Three perspectives on regime destabilisation governance: A metatheoretical analysis of German pesticide policy. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 44, 245-264. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.07.002

Contact person

Dr. Leonard Frank

• leonard.frank@envgov.uni-freiburg.de