Local quality and certification schemes as new forms of governance in sustainability transitions - Transition Pathways towards Sustainability in Agriculture: Case Studies from Europe - page 167

by the regime. However, the links between actors and the governance structures constructed
by them (represented by local quality or certification schemes) are highly important for the
success of the initiative. If these schemes are merely an instrument without engendering
collective action, then initiatives tend towards crisis as evidenced in the Greek case.
The forms of governance in our case studies are also linked with certain retro-elements
in terms of retro-technologies, retro-practices, and in general retro-innovations, as well as
greater emphasis on green technologies or green practices. These elements were most
obvious in the Czech case, in the orientation towards renewable sources of energy. As for
retro-practices, this initiative has the word 'traditions' in its name, which it demonstrates
through activities such as traditional methods of drying fruit. The importance of retro-
practices can also be identified in the Bulgarian case where traditional crafts, food (e.g.
dried cured ham, local plum brandy, local honey or aronia wine) and traditional agriculture
are the most important elements of the niche; and in Greece, with newcomers appreciating
the value of tradition combined with their outsiders' expertise. Such retro-elements do not
represent retrograde transitions (Wilson, 2007) because they influence the transition to
sustainable use of local resources and promote new values, patterns and quality of
consumption. They are linked to new forms of governance challenging regime governance
structures. Because the new forms of governance are constructed by modern actors, with
their fluidity and flexibility, the technologies, in their retro-fashion, reflect Baudrillard's
(1994) understanding of retro-practices as an attempt to resurrect the period when at least
there were some strong and unchangeable guiding principles.
Reflecting existing governance structures, newcomers can incorporate their views and
related practices into niches because the views are supported by the wider context. It is the
window of opportunity which provides the values and norms needed for the new
governance structures to be protected in the niche. The window of opportunity makes
emerging governance structures more attractive for new entrants, such as tourism
entrepreneurs or environmentalists. They are not burdened with the entrenched views which
dominate the regime. The structures are created by the newcomers and attract other new
entrants to farming in the locality. The newcomers emulate Weber's young men with new
values (2001), going out into the country and destroying 'business as usual' by setting up
new governance structures.
On the other hand, newcomers only succeed locally through their networks. The more
the initiative matures, the more problems they face expanding the niche into the regime
(e.g. the Greek and Czech cases, which appear to have networks that are closing down and
the problems recycling bottles in the Czech case). The new values and views are questioned
by those who are not part of the initiative. Even in the niches we can observe conflicts
between views emphasizing the role of the market (profit-oriented activities), which echoes
the dominant regime discourse, and the views supporting intangible values, such as nature
amenities or social cohesion.
Conclusion
Our case studies have confirmed that new governance structures are constructed by actors
networking in niches. These structures are not constructed immediately after the origin of
the niche; the initiative tends to experiment in searching for a way to cope with the
problems generated by the governance structures. However, in order to continue