Food in transition

The place of food in the theories of transition

Bibliographic Data

ID3405145
AuthorsJean-Pierre Poulain (0000-0002-7111-8167, University of Toulouse CERTOP UMR-CNRS, France; Taylor’s University, Malaysia, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume69
Issue3
Pages702-724
Publication date2021-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Sociological Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-0261 • E-ISSN: 1467-954X
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00380261211009092
OpenAlexW3160821311
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited42

Among the different theories used to explain social change, the transition theory holds a special place. It has been applied to subjects such as demography, epidemiology, nutrition, etc. and most often from a multidisciplinary perspective. However, beyond the apparent uniqueness of the transition label there are quite different theoretical frameworks and presuppositions, which can be a source of misunderstanding. A first perspective considers change as the transition from one stable state to another and concentrates on the processes at work in the transition phase. It focuses attention on the interactions between cultural and biological variables and tries to take into account the consequences of the fact that they move at different rates. A second perspective conceives change as a series of stages (more or less stable situations) and proceeds to analyse the structural transformation of the organisation at each stage. The emphasis is placed on the transformations that take place during these stages. This brings us closer to the theory of stages. Finally, a third perspective combines stages and transitions. Change is seen as part of an evolutionary and progressive movement and as being reversible or not. This article studies the cognitive organisation of the different theoretical variants of the transition model in which food plays a more or less important role

Economics · Epistemology · Multidisciplinary approach · Perspective (graphical) · Positive economics · Presupposition · Social science · Sociology · Transition (genetics) · Uniqueness · Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact · Computer Science · Culinary Culture and Tourism · Organic Food and Agriculture · Psychology · Social Psychology