
Mine Islar
Senior Lecturer, Docent

Research Areas:
Energy Justice and Sustainability of Energy Systems, Glacierized environments, Social Movements and Collective Action, Degrowth,
Research
My research solely focuses on the question of politics of transformative change as well as the political agency of change. So far sustainability researchers have focused largely on policy: what it is and what it could/should be. There are several academic articles on the compatibility, design of energy, climate, food, water policies and instruments. However, much less attention is devoted to the political circumstances that make transformative change and the adoption of such policies likely. In order to fill this gap in the field, I explore collective movements for sustainability with the following research projects: Citizen municipalism in Barcelona and Renewable energy cooperativism in South Lalitpur, Nepal. My overall aim is to understand political opportunity structures that citizen collective action is developed in different contexts and document practices of ‘everyday politics’ such as direct democracy and participatory budgeting for mobilizing political capital as a response to their ‘everyday’ sustainability challenges.
Throughout my studies, I also rework the concepts of political community and ecological citizenship which refers to a ‘new politics of obligation’, according to which human beings have obligations to animals, trees, mountains, oceans, and other members of the biotic community. At the center of my theoretical exploration is the firm belief that conventional conceptions of justice and citizenship do not provide the human species with an adequate set of tools for resolving the difficulties created by ecological challenges today. In line with this interest, I took part in the international effort to develop methodological framework for pluralistic valuation of nature in the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Research Projects
Exploring plural values of human-nature relationships in glacierized environments.
The project is funded by Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS) and will deliver high quality research along with relevant policy recommendations. The project responds to FORMAS’ call for integrated knowledge of climate change, ecosystems and society, and addresses the need for in-depth study of the human-nature relationship by crossing boundaries between different research fields ecosystem services and valuation, political ecology and glaciology.
Around the world, glaciers have been retreating at unprecedented rates. Glaciers affect people and societalrelations worldwide on many levels, whether by influencing mountain ecosystems, providing water fordrinking and agriculture, generating hydroelectric energy, determining safety for downstream communities, ordriving tourism economies and other types of livelihoods. Thisproject’s main purpose is to examine how values and human-nature relationships are affected by these challenges through a trans-regional study of glacierized environments in Scandinavia and the Himalayas.
This project is leading a key research theme at LUCSUS called Glacierized environments.
Funded by Lund University Agenda 2030
Welfare systems in OECD countries including Sweden face combined challenges such as rising inequality, demographic changes and environmental crises that are likely to drive up welfare demand. Economic growth is no longer a sustainable solution to these problems, since only very few countries have managed to decouple economic growth from ecological footprints and greenhouse gas emissions, and even where this has been achieved, the rates of emission decline are too slow to match the Paris climate targets. It is therefore imperative to consider how welfare systems may cope with the mentioned challenges in the absence of economic growth.
This project applies methodological pluralism, building on literature and policy reviews, statistical analyses, scenario building and expert forums. Based on cooperation with local, national and European stakeholders as well as with an International Academic Advisory Board featuring some the world’s leading experts in the field, this project develops and assesses ways of decoupling welfare from economic growth by focusing both on the ‘supply’ (fiscal and taxation-related) and ‘demand’ (labour market, health and care sector, community, education and environmental and spatial planning-related) aspects of welfare provision. The project brings together researchers from Social Sciences (Prof Max Koch, max [dot] koch [at] soch [dot] lu [dot] se, and Dr Mine Islar, Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, mine [dot] islar [at] lucsus [dot] lu [dot] se), Environmentalscience (Dr Johanna Alkan Olsson, johanna [dot] alkan_olsson [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se) and Economics and Management (Dr Alexander Paulsson, alexander [dot] paulsson [at] fek [dot] lu [dot] se).
Double transitions of energy in Nepal
Funded by VR Development grant (2023-2027)
The purpose of the project is to advance knowledge on the relationships between energy transition and energy access in the context of Nepal. Energy transition in Nepal runs along two parallel processes: a transition from low-access to high access to modern energy for meeting the demands of the population, and a transition from fossil-fuel based energy to renewable energy. However, little has been known about how these two processes relate to each other. By defining access as the ability to derive benefits from energy sources, we aim to identify the differentiated patterns of means, relations, and processes that enable/disable small businesses and households’ opportunities to have access, alleviate poverty and derive benefits from energy transition.
Ecological citizen and politicization after the right to the city movements
Funded by VR (2015-2018)
It aims to analyze the impact of contemporary movements in Europe in creating collective citizen initiatives and inclusive societies. The project results are documented by three publications (one recently published, two are upcoming). Project findings aim to contribute to a deepened understanding of politicization, especially in the aftermath of significant social movements, such as occupy movements. I documented the differences between ‘everyday makers’ and ‘expert citizens’ in citizen initiatives and their significance in sustaining a transformative change through the case of citizen municipalism in Barcelona. Another finding of the project is the alliance building between citizen initiatives and different sectors. Here I show strategies and examples of co-production of municipal policies in the context of energy, climate and gender together with activists and key people in respective sectors
Teaching
MESS 34 Governance for Sustainability (7,5 credits),Lund University Master Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainabillity (LUMES).
MESS 56 Popular Culture (7,5 credits), Lund University Master Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainabillity (LUMES).
PhD Course Degrowth and Sustainability Studies, Lund University Agenda 2030 School
Publications
Displaying of publications. Sorted by year, then title.
Postgrowth welfare systems: a view from the Nordic context
Riya Raphael, Jennifer B. Hinton, Alexander Paulsson, Max Koch, Mine Islar, et al.
(2024) Consumption and Society, 3 p.395-407
Journal articleFirescape politics of wildfires in the Mediterranean : Example from rural Tuscany, Italy
Lauren Chastain, Mine Islar
(2024) Geoforum, 154
Journal articleDegrowth: A Path to Transformative Solutions for Socio-Ecological Sustainability
Mine Islar, Max Koch, Riya Raphael, Alexander Paulsson
(2024) Global Sustainability, 7
Journal articleToward a post-carbon society : Supporting agency for collaborative climate action
Gustav Osberg, Mine Islar, Christine Wamsler
(2024) Ecology and Society, 29
Journal articleSignposts on the road toward transformative governance : how a stronger focus on diverse values can enhance environmental policies
Eszter Kelemen, Suneetha M. Subramanian, Alta De Vos, Sacha Amaruzaman, Luciana Porter-Bolland, et al.
(2023) Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 64
Journal article reviewSafe havens for energy democracy? Analysing the low-carbon transitions of Danish energy islands
Henner Busch, Jörg Radtke, Mine Islar
(2023) Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 33 p.227-251
Journal articleColoniality as a Barrier to Climate Action : Hierarchies of Power in a Coal-Based Economy
Mine Islar, Tara Van Ryneveld
(2023) Antipode, 55 p.958-981
Journal articleMethodological Assessment Report on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. : Chapter 6: Policy options and capacity development to operationalize the inclusion of diverse values of nature in decision-making.
Mine Islar, Patricia Balvanera, Eszter Kelemen, Unai Pascaul, Suneetha M. Subramanian, et al.
(2022)
ReportNog nu, politiker – ta klimatkrisen på allvar
Karin Gerhardt, Kimberly Nicholas, Wim Carton, Anika Binte Habib, Diego Galafassi, et al.
(2022) Aftonbladet Debatt, -
Newspaper articleDiverse values of nature for sustainability
Mine Islar, Unai Pascual, Patricia Balvanera, Erik Gomez Baggethun, Christopher B. Anderson, et al.
(2022) Nature, 620 p.813-823
Journal articleA political ecology of aviation and development : an analysis of relations of power and justice in the (de)construction of Nepal's Second International Airport
Hanna Geschewski, Mine Islar
(2022) Journal of Political Ecology, 29 p.51-75
Journal articleTransformative governance of biodiversity: insights for sustainable development : Transformative governance of biodiversity: insights for sustainable development
Ingrid Visseren-Hamakers, Jona Razzaque, Pamela McElwee, Esther Turnhout, Eszter Kelemen, et al.
(2021) Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 53 p.20-28
Journal articleHorizontal Local Governance and Social Inclusion : The Case of Municipality-Civil Society Engagement During Refugee Reception in Malmö, Sweden
Claudia Fry, Mine Islar
(2021) Frontiers in Political Science, 3
Journal articleClimate Politics in Green Deals : Exposing the Political Frontiers of the European Green Deal
Juan Antonio Samper, Amanda Schockling, Mine Islar
(2021) Politics and Governance, 9 p.8-16
Journal articleThe ‘end of the world’ vs. the ‘end of the month’: understanding social resistance to sustainability transition agendas, a lesson from the Yellow Vests in France
Mathilde Martin, Mine Islar
(2021) Sustainability Science , p.601-614
Journal articleDistributive Justice at the Global, National, and Temporal Scales
Mine Islar
(2020) The Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals : Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions , p.24-31
Article in encyclopediaNature unsettled: How knowledge and power shape ‘nature-based’ approaches to societal challenges
Stephen Woroniecki, Hausner Wendo, Ebba Brink, Mine Islar, Torsten Krause, et al.
(2020) Global Environmental Change, 65
Journal articleLiving degrowth? Investigating degrowth practices through performative methods
Johannes Brossmann, Mine Islar
(2020) Sustainability Science, 15 p.917-930
Journal article”Fakta och statistik om temperaturökning och förlust av biologisk mångfald räcker inte.”
David Harnesk, Ellinor Isgren, Chad Boda, David O Byrne, Maryam Nastar, et al.
(2019) Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Debatt
Newspaper article171 forskare: ”Vi vuxna bör också klimatprotestera”
Per Adman, Mats Alvesson, Elina Andersson, Mimmi Maria Barmark, Ebba Brink, et al.
(2019) Dagens nyheter (DN debatt)
Newspaper articlePolicy options and tools for decision makers. : IPBES, Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Mine Islar
(2019) Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services
Report chapterMake EU trade with Brazil sustainable
Laura Kehoe, Tiago Reis, Malika Virah-Sawmy, Andrew Balmford, Tobias Kuemmerle, et al.
(2019) Science, 364 p.341-341
Journal article (letter)Post-Truth: Hegemony on Social Media and Implications for Sustainability Communication
Cecilia Jacques, Mine Islar, Gavin Lord
(2019) Sustainability, 11
Journal articleDegrowth in Practice? Unraveling the Post-Political Effects of Slow City (Cittaslow) Movement in the Anatolian Town of Halfeti Xalfetî
Mine Islar, Gökhan Gulbandilar
(2019) Transforming Capitalism
Book chapterAre vegetables political? The traces of the Copenhagen Food Coop
Jens Hoff, Mine Islar
(2019) The Role of Non-state Actors in the Green Transition : Building a sustainable future
Book chapterMinskade utsläpp räcker inte för att rädda mångfalden
Henrik Thorén, Torsten Krause, Sanna Stålhammar, Mine Islar
(2019) ETC
Newspaper articleEn nyanserad debatt om klimatflyktingar måste baseras på vetenskapligt grundad fakta.
Mine Islar
(2018) Sydsvenskan
Newspaper articleDebattinlägg: ”En nyanserad debatt om klimatflyktingar måste baseras på vetenskapligt grundad fakta.”
Lina Eklund, Mine Islar, Martin Lemberg-Pedersen
(2018) Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Debatt
Newspaper article”What local people?” : En analys av gruvkonflikten i Gàllok och den samiska befolkningens rättigheter ur ett rättvise- och maktperspektiv
David Harnesk, Mine Islar, Sofia Stafström
(2018) Svensk gruvpolitik i omvandling : Aktörer, kontroverser, möjliga världar , p.101-124
Book chapterDoes Gender matter in energy (justice) research? : A review on energy justice dimensions of the low carbon transition
Sara Brogaard, Katharina Wiese, Mine Islar
(2018)
Conference paper: abstractGrassroots practices of citizenship and politicization in the urban : the case of right to the city initiatives in Barcelona
Mine Islar, Ezgi Irgil
(2018) Citizenship Studies, 22 p.491-506
Journal articleBook Review: Paul Raskin, Journey to Earthland:The Great Transition to Planetary Civilization
Mine Islar
(2018) Environmental Values, 27
ReviewWhat local people? Examining the Gállok mining conflict and the rights of the Sámi population in terms of justice and power
Sofia Persson, David Harnesk, Mine Islar
(2017) Geoforum, 86 p.20-29
Journal articleValuing nature's contributions to people : the IPBES approach
Unai Pascual, Patricia Balvanera, Sandra Díaz, György Pataki, Eva Roth, et al.
(2017) Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 26-27 p.7-16
Journal article reviewFeasibility of energy justice: Exploring national and local efforts for energy development in Nepal
Mine Islar, Sara Brogaard, Martin Lemberg-Pedersen
(2017) Energy Policy, 105 p.668-676
Journal articleFrom Producers to Consumers: The Challenges and Opportunities of Agricultural Development in Iraqi Kurdistan
Lina Eklund, Abdulhakim Abdi, Mine Islar
(2017) Land, 6
Journal article“We are not in this to save the polar bears!” : the link between community renewable energy development and ecological citizenship
Mine Islar, Henner Busch
(2016) Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 29 p.303-319
Journal articleThe Politics of Natural Resource Enclosure in South Africa and Ecuador
Melissa Hansen, Mine Islar, Torsten Krause
(2015) Conservation and Society, 13 p.287-298
Journal articlePolitical ecology of inter-basin water transfers in Turkish water governance
Mine Islar, Chad Boda
(2014) Ecology & Society, 19 p.15-15
Journal articleNeoliberalism, Nature, and Changing Modalities of Environmental Governance in Contemporary Turkey
Mine Islar, Leila M. Harris
(2013) International Political Economy Series , p.52-78
Book chapterPublic Participation as an Essentially Contested Concept: Insights from Water Management in Turkey
Gul Ozerol, Aysun Ozen Tacer, Mine Islar
(2013) Water Governance, Policy and Knowledge Transfer. International Studies on Contextual Water Management , p.128-147
Book chapterPrivate Rivers : Politics of Renewable Energy and the Rise of Water Struggles in Turkey
Mine Islar
(2013)
DissertationPrivatised hydropower development in Turkey : a case of water grabbing?
Mine Islar
(2012) Water Alternatives, 5 p.376-391
Journal articleStruggles for recognition : privatisation of water use rights of Turkish rivers
Mine Islar
(2012) Local Environment, 17 p.317-329
Journal articleDecentralization: Resolve or Hide the Problem?
Maryam Nastar, Mine Islar
(2011) Sustaining Commons: Sustaining Our Future, the Thirteenth Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons. Digital Library of the Commons.
Conference paper
Introduction
Mine Islar is an associate professor at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS). She obtained her PhD degree in sustainability science. Her expertise is on transformative governance, social and environmental justice as well as collective action towards sustainability in both urban and rural settings. Apart from this, she also acts as a scientific expert in UN Intergovermental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services (IPBES) as a Lead Author (2017-2020) for policy tools and instruments for the Values Assessment and Global Assessment of Biodiversity where she leads a section on governance challenges of SDGs with a special focus on SDG7 goal on energy and its potential implications on biodiversity.
Research Groups
PUFENDORF INSTITUTE ADVANCED STUDIES, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO MIGRATION
The Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS)’s special initiative on migration aims to identify interdisciplinary approaches to migration research in Sweden. In this initiative, we would like to discuss migration in a broader sense - where migration is treated as a process which encompasses a variety of phenomena across different disciplines, departments and faculties. New conceptual, theoretical approaches as well as methodological innovations in migration research are at the focus of this initiative.
POLLEN-POLITICAL ECOLOGY NETWORK
POLLEN is a global network, consisting of a large variety of political ecologists. As individuals or small groups, these political ecologists have formed so-called ‘nodes’ and interact through POLLEN. The aim of POLLEN is to facilitate interaction and creativity through ‘cross-fertilization’ and to promote the important field of political ecology world-wide, among academics as well as others.
ENERGY JUSTICE
The current energy transition calls for a rethinking of ethical dilemmas on how to allocate the benefits and costs of scarce energy resources, not only among the citizens of urban and rural; north and south; poor and rich but also between current and future generations. Past experiences have shown that realizing energy projects is seldom an uncontested process. From confrontations over oil extraction, concerns over the sustainability of biofuels, to resistance against hydropower, wind energy projects as well as nuclear power, energy questions seem inherently fraught with conflict and sustainability concerns. This ultimately raises the question of energy justice: how can we understand and foster justice and equality when considering past, present and future energy decision-making, production and access.
DEGROWTH
Temat Degrowth undersöker hur samhällen skulle kunna vara organiserad om ekonomisk tillväxt inte längre var det huvudsakliga sociala och politiska målet. På senare år har degrowth etablerats som ett paraplybegrepp i kritik mot den centralstyrda ekonomiska tillväxten i våra samhällen och omfamnar flertalet alternativ för ekologisk hållbarhet och social rättvisa. En vanlig missuppfattning är att degrowth är likvärdigt med negativ ekonomisk tillväxt eller att det antyder en återgång till förmoderna förhållanden. Vi ser däremot degrowth som ett sätt att hitta nya sätt att förstå och uppleva ett gott liv.