A View on Incumbent Peripheral Actors in Sustainability Transitions

Abstract

This article explores the role of incumbent peripheral actors (IPAs) in sustainability transitions. Unlike incumbent core actors, who are directly tied to the primary functions of a regime, IPAs are incumbent core actors in adjacent regimes, using their power and resources to systemically influence regime changes. IPAs, such as banks, universities and governmental agencies, play major roles by altering institutions within interconnected systems. We classify regime actors along dimensions of incumbency and their proximity to core activities, offering a nuanced understanding of their contributions and a definition of an IPA. This classification highlights the evolving roles of IPAs during transitions and their capacity to drive institutional change. While we assert that a typology of IPAs’ characteristics remains elusive, we propose dimensions to characterize their contributions and roles in sustainability transitions. Finally, we develop a research agenda to explore the roles of IPAs, their evolution and their impact on institutional change.