Publications
2026
Scholarly publications
Wijsman, K., Bogner, K., Avelino, F., Kalfagianni, A., & Weis, C. U. (2026). Towards a lexicon for just sustainability transitions: thinking with capabilities, epistemology, intersectionality, spatiality, and temporality. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 59, Article 101104. [DOI] [Repository]
2025
Scholarly publications
de Geus, T., Wittmayer, J. M., Avelino, F., & Fraaije, M. (2025). In pursuit of reflexivity: Applying reflexive monitoring for energy justice in Antwerp. In Reflexive Urban Governance: Critically Engaging with Urban Policies (pp. 83-102). Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.. [DOI] [Repository]
Beekman, M., Akerboom, S., Bidmon, C., & Avelino, F. (2025). Exploring transformative spaces in sustainability transitions. Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy, 21(1), Article 2534235. [DOI] [Repository]
Kaiser, B., Thiele, K., Jansen, E., Paterino, A., Avelino, F., & Wijsman, K. (2025). Power and polycrisis: on the durability of Capitalism-patriarchy-Colonialism (CPC). In G. Gallarotti (Ed.), Political Power and Crisis: Essays on Political Power Dynamics in Turbulent Times (pp. 147-164). (Journal of Political Power; Vol. 18, No. 1). Routledge. [DOI] [Repository]
Kaiser, B., Thiele, K., Jansen, E., Paterino, A., Avelino, F., & Wijsman, K. (2025). Power and Polycrisis: On the Durability of Capitalism-Patriarchy-Colonialism. Journal of Political Power, 18(1), 147-164. [DOI] [Repository]
2024
Scholarly publications
Claassen, R., Gerbrandy, A., Avelino, F., & Castaldi, C. (2024, Dec). Transforming Open Societies: A Position Paper. Utrecht University. https://www.uu.nl/en/media/114773 [Repository]
Avelino, F., Wijsman, K., van Steenbergen, F., Jhagroe, S., Wittmayer, J., Akerboom, S., Bogner, K., Jansen, E. F., Frantzeskaki, N., & Kalfagianni, A. (2024). Just Sustainability Transitions: Politics, Power, and Prefiguration in Transformative Change Toward Justice and Sustainability. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 49(1), 519-547. [DOI] [Repository]
Pel, B., Avelino, F., & Wittmayer, J. (2024). The Transformative Potential of Social Innovation: From anthropocentrism to social-material shifts. Paper presented at EASST-4S 2024 Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://nomadit.co.uk/conference/easst-4s2024/paper/86142
Avelino, F., van Steenbergen, F., Schipper, K., Steger, T., Henfrey, T., Cook, I. M., Bach, M., Crowley, D., Kotsila, P., Kramer, J., & Crudi, F. (2024). Mapping the diversity & transformative potential of approaches to sustainable just cities. Urban Transformations, 6(1), Article 5. [DOI] [Repository]
2023
Scholarly publications
Jansen, E. F., Avelino, F., Feola, G., & Bogner, K. (2023). Unpacking the Critical Turn in Sustainability Transitions Research in relation to Climate Justice – a theoretical reflection. Abstract from International Sustainability Transitions Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Herwix, A., Bogner, K., Schlaile, M. P., Friedrich, J., Zscheischler, J., & Avelino, F. (2023). Core Design Principles for Just Sustainability Transitions: A Framework for Organizing Just and Sustainable Collective Action. Abstract from International Sustainability Transitions Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands.
de Geus, T., Wittmayer, J., Avelino, F., & Fraaije, M. (2023). Reflexivity and experimentation in transition practice: addressing energy justice in Antwerp. Abstract from International Sustainability Transitions Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Avelino, F., Brisbois, M. C., de Geus, T., Hielscher, S., Rogge, K., & Strumińska-Kutra, M. (2023). Conceptualizing Transformative Power in Sustainability Transitions: the Case of Energy. Abstract from International Sustainability Transitions Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Beekman, M., Akerboom, S., Bidmon, C., & Avelino, F. (2023). Exploring the potential of transformative spaces in sustainability transitions. Abstract from 14th International Sustainability Transitions (IST) Conference 2023, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Beekman, M., Akerboom, S., Bidmon, C., & Avelino, F. (2023). Exploring the potential of transformative spaces in sustainability transitions. Abstract from SCORAI-ERCSCP-WUR Conference, Wageningen, Netherlands.
Avelino, F., Wittmayer, J. M., & Dumitru, A. (2023). Power and empowerment in social innovation. In J. Howaldt, & C. Kaletka (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Innovation (pp. 141-147). (Elgar Encyclopedias in Business and Management series). Edward Elgar Publishing. [DOI]
Sovacool, B. K., Brugger, H., Brunzema, I., Dańkowska, A., Wemyss, D., Vernay, A.-L., Betz, R., Avelino, F., de Geus, T., Dembek, A., Duetschke, E., Hielscher, S., Iskandarova, M., Müller, L., Musiolik, J., Ranville, A., Schleich, J., Stasik, A., Strumińska-Kutra, M., ... Rogge, K. S. (2023). Social innovation supports inclusive and accelerated energy transitions with appropriate governance. Communications Earth & Environment, 4(1), Article 289. [DOI] [Repository]
Pel, B., Wittmayer, J. M., Avelino, F., Loorbach, D., & de Geus, T. (2023). How to account for the dark sides of social innovation? Transitions directionality in renewable energy prosumerism. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 49, Article 100775. [DOI] [Repository]
Avelino, F., Hielscher, S., Strumińska-Kutra, M., de Geus, T., Widdel, L., Wittmayer, J., Dańkowska, A., Dembek, A., Fraaije, M., Heidary, J., Iskandarova, M., Rogge, K., Stasik, A., & Crudi, F. (2023). Power to, over and with: Exploring power dynamics in social innovations in energy transitions across Europe. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 48, Article 100758. [DOI] [Repository]
Nederhand, J., Avelino, F., Awad, I., De Jong, P., Duijn, M., Edelenbos, J., Engelbert, J., Fransen, J., Schiller, M., & Van Stapele, N. (2023). Reclaiming the city from an urban vitalism perspective: critically reflecting smart, inclusive, resilient and sustainable just city labels. Cities, 137, Article 104257. [DOI] [Repository]
de Geus, T., Avelino, F., Strumińska-Kutra, M., Pitzer, M., Wittmayer, J. M., Hendrikx, L., Joshi, V., Schrandt, N., Widdel, L., Fraaije, M., Iskandarova, M., Hielscher, S., & Rogge, K. (2023). Making sense of power through transdisciplinary sustainability research: insights from a Transformative Power Lab. Sustainability Science, 18(3), 1311-1327. [DOI] [Repository]
2022
Scholarly publications
Pel, B., Wittmayer, J. M., Avelino, F., & Bauler, T. (2022). Paradoxes of Transformative Social Innovation: From Critical Awareness towards Strategies of Inquiry. NOvation - Critical Studies of Innovation, 2022(4), 35-62. [DOI] [Repository]
Wittmayer, J. M., Campos, I., Avelino, F., Brown, D., Doračić, B., Fraaije, M., Gährs, S., Hinsch, A., Assalini, S., Becker, T., Marín-González, E., Holstenkamp, L., Bedoić, R., Duić, N., Oxenaar, S., & Pukšec, T. (2022). Thinking, doing, organising: Prefiguring just and sustainable energy systems via collective prosumer ecosystems in Europe. Energy Research and Social Science, 86, Article 102425. [DOI] [Repository]
Wittmayer, J. M., Hielscher, S., Fraaije, M., Avelino, F., & Rogge, K. (2022). A typology for unpacking the diversity of social innovation in energy transitions. Energy Research and Social Science, 88, 1-11. Article 102513. [DOI] [Repository]
2021
Scholarly publications
Wittmayer, J. M., Avelino, F., Pel, B., & Campos, I. (2021). Contributing to sustainable and just energy systems? The mainstreaming of renewable energy prosumerism within and across institutional logics. Energy Policy, 149, 1-11. Article 112053. [DOI] [Repository]
Avelino, F. (2021). Theories of power and social change. Power contestations and their implications for research on social change and innovation. Journal of Political Power, 14(3), 425-448. [DOI] [Repository]
2020
Scholarly publications
Avelino, F., Dumitru, A., Cipolla, C., Kunze, I., & Wittmayer, J. (2020). Translocal empowerment in transformative social innovation networks. European Planning Studies, 28(5), 955-977. [DOI]
Pel, B., Haxeltine, A., Avelino, F., Dumitru, A., Kemp, R., Bauler, T., Kunze, I., Dorland, J., Wittmayer, J., & Jørgensen, M. S. (2020). Towards a theory of transformative social innovation: A relational framework and 12 propositions. Research Policy, 49(8), Article 104080. [DOI]
Loorbach, D., Wittmayer, J., Avelino, F., von Wirth, T., & Frantzeskaki, N. (2020). Transformative innovation and translocal diffusion. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 35, 251-260. [DOI]
Wittmayer, J. M., de Geus, T., Pel, B., Avelino, F., Hielscher, S., Hoppe, T., Mühlemeier, S., Stasik, A., Oxenaar, S., Rogge, K. S., Visser, V., Marín-González, E., Ooms, M., Buitelaar, S., Foulds, C., Petrick, K., Klarwein, S., Krupnik, S., de Vries, G., ... Härtwig, A. (2020). Beyond instrumentalism: Broadening the understanding of social innovation in socio-technical energy systems. Energy Research and Social Science, 70, Article 101689. [DOI]
2019
Scholarly publications
Avelino, F., Wittmayer, J. M., Pel, B., Weaver, P., Dumitru, A., Haxeltine, A., Kemp, R., Jørgensen, M. S., Bauler, T., Ruijsink, S., & O'Riordan, T. (2019). Transformative social innovation and (dis)empowerment. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 145, 195-206. [DOI]
Hölscher, K., Wittmayer, J. M., Avelino, F., & Giezen, M. (2019). Opening up the transition arena: An analysis of (dis)empowerment of civil society actors in transition management in cities. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 145, 176-185. [DOI]
Wittmayer, J. M., Backhaus, J., Avelino, F., Pel, B., Strasser, T., Kunze, I., & Zuijderwijk, L. (2019). Narratives of change: How social innovation initiatives construct societal transformation. Futures, 112, Article 102433. [DOI]
Köhler, J., Geels, F. W., Kern, F., Markard, J., Onsongo, E., Wieczorek, A., Alkemade, F., Avelino, F., Bergek, A., Boons, F., Fünfschilling, L., Hess, D., Holtz, G., Hyysalo, S., Jenkins, K., Kivimaa, P., Martiskainen, M., McMeekin, A., Mühlemeier, M. S., ... Wells, P. (2019). An agenda for sustainability transitions research: State of the art and future directions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 31, 1-32. [DOI]
2018
Scholarly publications
Hölscher, K., Wittmayer, J. M., & Avelino, F. (2018). Empowering actors in transition management in and for cities. Understanding different roles in urban sustainability transitions. In Co-creating sustainable urban futures. A primer on applying transition management in cities
2017
Scholarly publications
Wittmayer, J., Pel, B., Bauler, T., & Avelino, F. (2017). Editorial synthesis: Methodological challenges in social innovation research. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 2(1), 1-16. [DOI]
Haxeltine, A., Pel, B., Wittmayer, J., Dumitru, A., Kemp, R., & Avelino, F. (2017). Building a middle-range theory of Transformative Social Innovation; theoretical pitfalls and methodological responses. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 2(1), 59-77. [DOI]
Wittmayer, J. M., Avelino, F., van Steenbergen, F., & Loorbach, D. (2017). Actor roles in transition: Insights from sociological perspectives. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 24, 45-56. [DOI]
Loorbach, D., Frantzeskaki, N., & Avelino, F. (2017). Sustainability Transitions Research: Transforming Science and Practice for Societal Change. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 42, 599-626. [DOI]
Avelino, F., & Grin, J. (2017). Beyond deconstruction. a reconstructive perspective on sustainability transition governance. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 22, 15-25. [DOI]
Avelino, F. (2017). Power in Sustainability Transitions: Analysing power and (dis)empowerment in transformative change towards sustainability. Environmental Policy and Governance, 27(6), 505-520. [DOI]
Avelino, F., & Wittmayer, J. (2017). A multi-actor perspective on urban sustainability transitions. In N. Frantzeskaki, V. Castán Broto, L. Coenen, & D. Loorbach (Eds.), INTERLUDE: Urban Sustainability Transitions (pp. 272-284). Taylor & Francis. [DOI]
Avelino, F., Wittmayer, J. M., Kemp, R., & Haxeltine, A. (2017). Game-changers and transformative social innovation. Ecology and Society, 22(4), Article 41. [DOI]
Haxeltine, A., Avelino, F., Wittmayer, J. M., Kunze, I., Longhurst, N., Dumitru, A., & O'Riordan, T. (2017). Conceptualising the role of social innovation in sustainability transformations. In J. Backhaus, A. Genus, S. Lorek, E. Vadovics, & J. M. Wittmayer (Eds.), Social Innovation and Sustainable Consumption: Research and Action for Societal Transformation (1 ed., pp. 12-25). Taylor & Francis. [DOI]
2016
Scholarly publications
Pel, B., Avelino, F., & Jhagroe, S. (2016). Critical approaches to transitions theory. In H. Günter Brauch, Ú. Oswald Spring, J. Grin, & J. Scheffran (Eds.), Handbook on Sustainability Transition and Sustainable Peace (pp. 451-463). (Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace; Vol. 10). Springer. [DOI]
Avelino, F., Grin, J., Pel, B., & Jhagroe, S. (2016). The politics of sustainability transitions. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 18(5), 557-567. [DOI]
Loorbach, D., Avelino, F., Haxeltine, A., Wittmayer, J. M., O'Riordan, T., Weaver, P., & Kemp, R. (2016). The economic crisis as a game changer? Exploring the role of social construction in sustainability transitions. Ecology and Society, 21(4), Article 15. [DOI]
Avelino, F., & Wittmayer, J. M. (2016). Shifting power relations in sustainability transitions: A multi-actor perspective. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 18(5), 628-649. [DOI]
Longhurst, N., Avelino, F., Wittmayer, J., Weaver, P., Dumitru, A., Hielscher, S., Cipolla, C., Afonso, R., Kunze, I., & Elle, M. (2016). Experimenting with alternative economies: four emergent counter-narratives of urban economic development. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 22, 69-74. [DOI]
Frantzeskaki, E., Dumitru, A., Anguelovski, I., Avelino, F., Bach, M., Best, B., Binder, C., Barnes, J., Carrus, G., Egermann, M., Haxeltine, A., Moore, M.-L., Mira, R. G., Loorbach, D., Uzzell, D., Omman, I., Olsson, P., Silvestri, G., Stedman, R., ... Rauschmayer, F. (2016). Elucidating the changing roles of civil society in urban sustainability transitions. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 22, 41-50. [DOI]
2014
Scholarly publications
McGowan, K. A., Westley, F., Fraser, E. D. G., Loring, P. A., Weathers, K. C., Avelino, F., Sendzimir, J., Chowdhury, R. R., & Moore, M.-L. (2014). The research journey: Travels across the idiomatic and axiomatic toward a better understanding of complexity. Ecology and Society, 19(3), Article 37. [DOI]
2013
Scholarly publications
Frantzeskaki, N., Avelino, F., & Loorbach, D. (2013). Outliers or frontrunners? Exploring the (Self-) governance of community-owned sustainable energy in Scotland and the Netherlands. In E. Michalena, & J. M. Hills (Eds.), Renewable Energy Governance: Complexities and Challenges (pp. 101-116). (Lecture Notes in Energy; Vol. 23). Springer. [DOI]
2011
Scholarly publications
Kemp, R., Avelino, F., & Bressers, N. (2011). Transition management as a model for sustainable mobility. European Transport - Trasporti Europei, 47, 25-46.
Avelino, F., & Rotmans, J. (2011). A dynamic conceptualization of power for sustainability research. Journal of Cleaner Production, 19(8), 796-804. [DOI]
2009
Scholarly publications
Avelino, F., & Rotmans, J. (2009). Power in transition: An interdisciplinary framework to study power in relation to structural change. European Journal of Social Theory, 12(4), 543-569. [DOI]
Avelino, F. (2009). Empowerment and the challenge of applying transition management to ongoing projects. Policy Sciences, 42, Article 369. [DOI]