Measuring industrial modernity in comparative perspective, 1900–2020
Date
2024-10-29
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Abstract
Doktoritöö kasutab tööstusliku modernsuse kontseptsiooni, et uurida, kuidas mõjutas süsteemide, nagu energia, mobiilsus ja toit, koosareng tööstusühiskondade kujunemist. Suurte siirete raamistik kirjeldab tööstuslikku modernsust tööstusühiskondade 18. sajandi alguses arenema hakanud toimimisloogikana, mis on ühelt poolt panustanud inimeste heaolusse, kuid teisalt juurutanud jätkusuutmatud ideed, institutsioonid ja tegutsemisviisid, mis on omakorda viinud keskkonnaseisundi halvenemiseni. Väitekiri rõhutab tööstusühiskondade põhimõttelise suunamuutuse – Teise Suure Siirde – vajadust tööstusliku modernsusega seotud probleemide ületamiseks.
Autor püstitas tööstusliku modernsuse mõõtmiseks läbi aja ja ruumi kaks uurimisküsimust: mil määral on võimalik vaadelda tööstuslikus modernsuses jätkuvusi ja katkestusi erinevates riikides ajavahemikus 1900-2020 ja millises riigis võiks alguse saada Teine Suur Siire. Küsimustele vastamiseks panustas autor kolme empiirilisse artiklisse.
Esimesed kaks keskenduvad tööstusliku modernsuse jätkuvustele ja võimalikele katkestustele aastatel 1900-2020. Pilootuuring analüüsis Austraalia, Saksamaa ja NSVL/Venemaa andmeid ning teine uuring kaasas lisaks India ja Ameerika Ühendriikide andmed. Mõlemad rakendasid tekstikaevet ja aegridade analüüsi, et jälgida muutusi keskkonda ja tehnoteadust valitsevates ideedes, institutsioonides ja praktikates. Enam muutusi võib täheldada keskkonda puudutavas meediakajastuses ja institutsionaalses lähenemises, tehnoteadusega seonduv jäi sarnaselt keskkonnapraktikatega suuremate muutusteta. Kõige eesrindlikumaks võib pidada Saksamaad.
Kolmas uuring töötas välja Tööstusliku Modernsuse Indeksi (ingl Industrial Modernity Index, IMI), et hinnata tööstusliku modernsuse geograafilist jaotumist 63 riigis üle maailma. IMI mõõdab tööstusliku modernsuse kihi paksust, mis omakorda aitab hinnata strukturaalsete piirangute ulatust Teise Suure Siirde käivitumisele. Analüüsitud riikidest näitas suurimat potentsiaali Rootsi ning kõige kõrgemaks osutusid piirangud Kuveidis.
Autor arutleb kokkuvõtvalt töö panusest siirde- ja kestlikkuseuuringutesse ning poliitikaloomesse. Arutelu rõhutab tööstusliku modernsusega seotud ideede, institutsioonide ja praktikate ümberkujundamise vajadust, eriti tehnoteadusega seonduvas. Autor pakub selleks välja praktilisi soovitusi ja teeb ettepanekud edasisteks uuringuteks.
This thesis explores the concept of industrial modernity, a term that characterises the dominant developments in socio-technical systems that have shaped modern societies since the 18th century. The author argues that these systems (e.g., energy, mobility, food), while contributing to significant advancements in human well-being, have also rooted unsustainable ideation, institutional design, and practices, leading to environmental degradation. The dissertation draws on the Deep Transitions framework, which emphasises the need for a fundamental shift – a Second Deep Transition – to address the unsustainability of industrial modernity. The research is guided by two main questions: the extent to which continuities and ruptures in industrial modernity can be observed in different countries between 1900 and 2020 and where the onset of the Second Deep Transition is most likely. To answer these, the author draws on three empirical articles. The first two studies examine the continuities and ruptures in industrial modernity across different countries from 1900 to 2020. The pilot study focuses on Australia, Germany, and the USSR/Russia, while the second study expands to include India and the United States. These studies employ text mining and time series analysis to track changes in ideas, institutions, and practices related to the environment, science, and technology. A general trend across the countries analysed is a shift towards environmental concerns in public discourse and institutions. Yet, the environmental practices and the domain of technoscience remain a dominant focus, with Germany leading the way in many of the transformative developments. The third study introduces the Industrial Modernity Index (IMI), a composite indicator assessing the current state of industrial modernity in 63 countries. The IMI measures the “thickness” of industrial modernity’s socio-material layer, indicating the structural constraints on the Second Deep Transitions. Out of the countries analysed, the most potential was found in Sweden and the least in Kuwait. The author concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for sustainability transitions research, sustainability science, and policymaking. The concluding discussion highlights the need to address the persistent influence of industrial modernity. It suggests that a deep sustainability turn requires a fundamental rethinking of prevailing ideas, institutions, and practices, particularly in the domain of technoscience. The author gives practical suggestions for this and future research.
This thesis explores the concept of industrial modernity, a term that characterises the dominant developments in socio-technical systems that have shaped modern societies since the 18th century. The author argues that these systems (e.g., energy, mobility, food), while contributing to significant advancements in human well-being, have also rooted unsustainable ideation, institutional design, and practices, leading to environmental degradation. The dissertation draws on the Deep Transitions framework, which emphasises the need for a fundamental shift – a Second Deep Transition – to address the unsustainability of industrial modernity. The research is guided by two main questions: the extent to which continuities and ruptures in industrial modernity can be observed in different countries between 1900 and 2020 and where the onset of the Second Deep Transition is most likely. To answer these, the author draws on three empirical articles. The first two studies examine the continuities and ruptures in industrial modernity across different countries from 1900 to 2020. The pilot study focuses on Australia, Germany, and the USSR/Russia, while the second study expands to include India and the United States. These studies employ text mining and time series analysis to track changes in ideas, institutions, and practices related to the environment, science, and technology. A general trend across the countries analysed is a shift towards environmental concerns in public discourse and institutions. Yet, the environmental practices and the domain of technoscience remain a dominant focus, with Germany leading the way in many of the transformative developments. The third study introduces the Industrial Modernity Index (IMI), a composite indicator assessing the current state of industrial modernity in 63 countries. The IMI measures the “thickness” of industrial modernity’s socio-material layer, indicating the structural constraints on the Second Deep Transitions. Out of the countries analysed, the most potential was found in Sweden and the least in Kuwait. The author concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for sustainability transitions research, sustainability science, and policymaking. The concluding discussion highlights the need to address the persistent influence of industrial modernity. It suggests that a deep sustainability turn requires a fundamental rethinking of prevailing ideas, institutions, and practices, particularly in the domain of technoscience. The author gives practical suggestions for this and future research.
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