The interconnected dynamics of social practices and their implications for transformative change: A review

This review article analyses the interconnectedness of different fields of social practice. Our aim is to understand if and how the literature using social practice theory addresses these interrelations and how this is linked to ques- tions of sustainability transformations. Based on our review, we suggest a framework that conceives everyday- life practices of working, dwelling, mobility, eating, and recreation as closely intertwined and not changing inde- pendently of each other. As our analysis demonstrates, such a framing also contributes to better understanding the dynamics of (un)sustainable transformative change. Greater sustainability cannot be achieved by technolog- ical fixes or changes in individual behaviour alone but requires comprehensive interventions that address the in- teractions between practices, as these often co-evolve and co-locate, and changes need to be aligned between different practice fields. This has high relevance for understanding the development of public policy interven- tions that aim to increase the sustainability of everyday life. Our review shows a significant value of social practice research on the interconnectedness of different practice fields, although certain areas still appear to be somewhat neglected, such as the interconnectedness of work-related practices with other practices of everyday life. It fur- thermore points to the potential contribution of studies of interconnected practices to the literature on sustain- ability transitions, a perspective otherwise neglected in transition studies focusing on organisational actors and institutional dimensions of socio-technical change.