A modular governance architecture in-the-making: How transnational standard-setters govern sustainability transitions

摘要: Sustainability transitions have been studied as complex multi-level processes, but we still know relatively little about how they can be effectively governed, especially in transnational domains. Governance of is often constrained by the equivocality sustainability goals, idiosyncrasy niche experiments and multiplicity governance actors interests. We study role standard-setters mitigating these challenges governing within a sector. Our case global coffee sector where ‘sustainability standards’ are increasingly being adopted. find that emergence ‘modular architecture’ has helped diverse heterogeneous turn from an ambiguous concept into concrete set semi-independent practices, while complexity. show create modules through local experimentation, negotiate legitimate their content with peers across contexts, re-integrate them emerging architecture. findings shed light on modular processes managing governance, dynamics meaning-making this process.