Supervisors: Anne Ellerup Nielsen & Sophie Esmann
Discussants: Birte Asmuβ & Irene Pollach

Abstract
Cross-sectoral partnerships are partnerships between political, economic and societal actors (Koschmann et al., 2012; Selsky & Parker, 2005). Researchers have stressed the transformational potential of these partnerships to tackle issues that are too demanding for one organization or sector alone, such as sustainability (Clarke & Crane, 2018; Waddock, 1989). They are particularly powerful due to their ability to address complex and multifaceted issues characterized by diverse multiple interests, and they can create value for the involved actors, the local community as well as the socio-ecological system within which they are embedded (Clarke & Crane, 2018; Clarke & MacDonald, 2019; Dentoni et al., 2021).

Previous studies show that despite collaborative efforts, cross-sectoral partnerships encounter the challenge of managing contrasting interests and agendas of the involved actors: Tensions may arise between present and future temporal contexts, or conflicting interests between political and economic agendas clashing with environmental impact and public acceptability (Clarke & MacDonald, 2019; Islar & Busch, 2016; Slawinski & Bansal, 2015; Van der Byl & Slawinski, 2015; Walker et al., 2007).

However, we have little empirical knowledge about the nature and development of such tensions as well as of how these tensions contribute to processes of sustainable transformation. While a paradox approach to study tensions acknowledges contradictory demands, research in sustainability tend to simplify the role and experience of tensions and has foremost focused on either-or solutions, as in trade-offs or dilemmas, thus suggesting sustainable transformation to prioritize between economic, environmental or social purposes (Slawinski & Bansal, 2012).

Building on the notion that tensions are unavoidable and a fundamental premise of sustainable transformation, (Hahn & Knight, 2021) the purpose of this PhD project is to empirically explore how tensions emerge in sustainable transformation and how political, economic and societal actors in cross-sectoral partnerships navigate the tensions (Austin & Seitanidi, 2012; Pedersen et al., 2021, p. 1042).

As an empirical context, the European Green Deal and projects for its national and local execution are taken as a point of departure. Here, a local cross-sectoral partnership focusing on renewable energy transition has been chosen as a particular relevant site to explore a micro-level perspective. Understanding micro-processes between actors on a local level is essential in order to being able to safeguard and multiply the construction of resilience within sustainable transformation on a broader, international level thus addressing “wicked” problems such as sustainability (Barnett et al., 2018, p. 121).

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