The conflicts of ecological transition on the ground and the role of eco-social policies: Lessons from Italian case studies

The paper analyzes the complexity of social-ecological transition policies and processes on the ground focusing on trade-offs and emerging conflicts engendered by combined environmental-social-technological programs and innovations. To date, there has been a limited focus in the literature on empirical cases analyzing ecological transition, distributive effects, social risks and policies to counter them. To help fill this gap, the paper discusses three qualitative case studies as part of a research project on social cohesion in ecological transitions in Tuscany, Italy. In particular, it examines the ongoing transition strategies and practices, bringing out several aspects that highlight the sources of controversies among actors and the contextual variability and complexity of their “playgrounds”, namely: (1) the role of time, space and relational patterns, and ensuing problems of governance, coordination and synchronization; (2) the way in which institutional and technological transformations are embedded in trans-contextual relations and conflicts; (3) the role of different sources and kinds of knowledge in supporting or hampering the ecological transitions; and (4) the shifting balances between top-down strategies and regulation, and bottom-up processes of civic associations and social movements. The paper then contributes by analyzing the attempts at providing social security by means of more or less explicitly designed eco-social policies and practices and highlighting some relevant lessons learned and methodological recommendations for future sustainable welfare design.