Human geography and socio-technical transition studies: Promising intersections

Transition researchers recognize increasingly the need to betteraddress the role that spatial and geographical factors play in guiding the evolution of socio- technical and technological innovationsystems. At the same time, some geographers are being drawn totransition studies as they strive to better understand the development trajectories of cities, industries, production networks, andeconomies. Building off these convergences, this paper proposestwo interventions through which geographical ideas might furthercontribute to transitions research. The first focuses on conceptualizations of the socio-spatial dynamics through which TIS or nichecontexts are coupled or aligned effectively with socio-technicalregimes such that regime shifts become possible. The second bringsthe concept of place-making to bear on transition studies in orderto analyze the political processes that shape the evolution of sociotechnical systems. The paper closes with general arguments aboutways to expand and diversify the geography-of-sustainabilitytransitions epistemic community. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.