Mid-range Transition Arenas and Citizen Participation in Finland’s Energy Transition: A Comparative Analysis of Actors, Instruments, Solutions and Future Prospects

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master_Giacomelli_Daniel_2025.pdf (3.34 MB)

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School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
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Date

2025-07-28

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Collaborative and Industrial Design

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Degree programme

Master's Programme in Design

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en

Pages

89

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Abstract

This master’s thesis investigates mid-range transition arenas as participatory co-design tools within the context of energy transition policymaking in Finland. The research analyses four such workshops, focusing on the future pathways envisioned by participants, the interrelations between actor groups, instruments, and solutions, and what these reveal about the participation dynamics within them. The study involves a systematic thematic coding and comparative analysis of four mid-range transition arena workshop reports completed in Finland between 2017 and 2023. This approach enables the categorization, comparison, and evaluation of the identified actors, policy instruments, and technical solutions. In addition, three expert interviews provide contextual insight and explore potential future adaptations of the methodology. Key findings align with previous academic research on mid-range transition arenas, indicating a dominant pattern favouring institutional actors, who are most frequently associated with top-down policy instruments. The analysis reveals a centralized model of change envisioned by participants, with limited attention to participatory governance or citizen-driven innovation. To address this imbalance, the thesis concludes by proposing three possible methodological adaptations, including layered educational tools, revised persona frameworks, and flexible role-play elements to foster broader actor inclusion and support bottom-up perspectives in future mid-range transition arenas.

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Supervisor

Hyysalo, Sampsa

Thesis advisor

Savolainen, Kaisa

Keywords

transition arenas, mid-range transition arenas, transition management, transition pathways, energy transition, citizen participation

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202508256813

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[master] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS