ICS Working Paper Nº1/2018

ICS W O R K I N G P A P E R S 2018 23 context, our analysis of CBIs’ agency must lie on process rather than strictly outcome. To this effect, although Portuguese CBIs’ on-the-ground practices have had limited impact in changing current development paradigms, they may well have had multiple non-quantifiable or non immediately visible ones. These refer to spaces of social engagement and experimentation, lifestyle changes, awareness raising and so forth. Regardless of their yet embryonic nature, dismissing the latter would be unwise, as CBIs might represent the first stepping stone of a generation of practices that may evolve, through trial and error, into viable alternatives to the global dominating neoliberal growth-oriented development paradigm and its inherent multidimensional unsustainability. Policy Role. In this line, CBIs are perfectly positioned to act as pathfinders of co-shaping processes, between social innovators and incumbent institutions, actively contesting the latter’s unsustainable development logic in the relevant political fora. CBIs are unlikely to achieve this without favourable institutional frameworks and policy environments. This implies that local governments must acknowledge CBIs’ roles and achievements and be willing to share responsibilities. Instead of acting solely as regulators, they must themselves become innovators and facilitators. CBIs can potentially contribute in multiple policy contexts. For example, they can help mitigate the lingering negative impacts of the 2007-08 economic crisis in sparsely populated areas or revitalise ageing territories in a growingly urbanized Europe. Particularly in deprived and growingly depopulated areas they can serve as a deterrent for a local break- down in social cohesion. Alternatively, CBIs are potential players for the local achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals that resources-strapped municipalities should consider. These are but a few examples. Finally, we come full circle. Why is politicization necessary? As Avelino and Witmayer (2016) point out, sustainability transitions are not only about socio-technical transformation but also about socio-political change. Ultimately, long-lasting societal change doesn’t happen overnight and the necessary societal mobilisation will not occur without the politicisation of the socio-ecological transition agenda proper. Thus we believe that politicisation as a process is in itself an unexplored transition pathway that should develop alongside with current CBI practices in Portugal and elsewhere. Conflict of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Research Funding Programme of FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - Portugal) nor of the University of Lisbon. Acknowledgements This work was supported by grant SFRH/BPD/73337/2010 from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - Portugal) awarded to the first author. We want to express our deepest gratitude to Tim O’Riordan