Coordenadoria de desenvolvimento econômico sustentável de Cascavel/PR (CODESC) e a teoria da transition management: uma análise comparativa teórico-prática

Abstract

The creation of organizations aimed at sustainable development in Brazil has been marked by initiatives which to integrate socio-environmental actions and socio-ecological learning processes. In the Western region of Paraná, there is an example of this, where environmental and economic challenges culminated in the establishment of the Sustainable Economic Development Coordination of Cascavel (CODESC), which activities have served as key pillars in promoting municipal sustainable development. From its beginning as a Committee to its current structure as a Coordination body, the trajectory of this organization – which brings together business, political, and civil society leaders with the goal of envisioning the future of Cascavel, aligns with the assumptions of Transition Management (TM), an approach considered innovative for the governance of complex social systems. Based on systems theory, TM was created to address persistent problems in developing societies. In this regard, considering TM’s assumptions—such as its structure across strategic, tactical, operational, and reflexive governance activities, concepts like transition arenas, and the multi-level perspective—this research was developed with the aim of analyzing CODESC’s structural and operational model against TM’s assumptions, in order to identify intersections and contributions that may strengthen and expand the theoretical basis of the actions carried out by this Coordination body. In order to support the research analysis, a mixed-methods approach was adopted, involving the use of diverse data collection and techniques such as Documentary Analysis, Semi-structured Interviews, Questionnaires, and Participant Observation, supported by a bibliometric study that identified the main references in the field of TM and its theoretical development. The findings in the study and a comparative theoretical-practical analysis point out to, similarities identified between CODESC’s evolution and TM’s assumptions. Based on the results, it is considered that, this study may contribute to new implementations of transition management for sustainability in Brazil, highlighting the relevance of this approach in creating sustainable models and adaptive governance to face complex long-term challenges, as well as offering suggestions for future research on the subject.