Publication alert: What is Directionality, Really?

This recent paper by REWIRE members Sabine de Graaf, Iris Wanzenböck, and Koen Frenken (all Utrecht University) examines how the notion of “directionality” is understood in innovation policy and sustainability transitions research, and argues for a clearer distinction between actors actively giving direction and the broader systemic directionality that emerges through transformative change. By drawing on political theory, the authors highlight the process‑oriented and political nature of directionality and ask key questions about who shapes direction, where and how this happens, and why directions shift over time. Through an integrative review of five major policy process frameworks, they explore how these dynamics play out in practice. The paper concludes with an integrated framework to better analyze and navigate the politics of directionality in addressing societal challenges.

You can read the paper that has been published in the journal Science and Public Policy here.