Social tipping points and tipping dynamics for sustainability

Abstract

The concept of social tipping points has become a buzzword within social science research concerned with the transformation of current social systems towards sustainability. Originally coming from the natural sciences, tipping points within social systems are understood as points at which a certain behaviour, norm, trend, etc. becomes the (new) predominant one in a population. The recent interest in the concept seems to stem on the hope that the generated insights can inform ‘tools’ for transforming societies towards sustainability effectively, and at the quick pace that seems to be needed. The initial research about social tipping points focuses on defining and discussing the general understanding of what social tipping and tipping points in social systems are, and what they can imply. Departing from that, this panel aims to bring together latest research going further into the matter, with contributions that add to our understanding of social tipping in and for sustainability, and the dynamics behind it. The papers presented in the panel look at, e.g., which elements contribute to tipping and which elements can tip themselves; whether and under what conditions tipping dynamics occur; and how to predict the occurrence of social tipping. Furthermore, the panel aims to give stage to presentations and discussion of insights about the link of social tipping with politics and policy-making; in particular, if and how certain socio-political interventions can contribute to tipping a social system.

Title	Details
Bringing the political system (back) into social tipping relevant to sustainability	View Paper Details
Domino Effects in the Earth System -- The role of wanted social tipping dynamics	View Paper Details
Can we know? Predicting social tipping points	View Paper Details