ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of (meta)narratives in personal and communal sustainability crises. What is understood by “sustainable development” highly depends on the persons or groups talking and the context the expression is used in. Grounding on empirical research on the respective understandings of actors from civil society as well as from governance, the author claims that the different meanings attached to the concept of sustainable development could be condensed to two main types of content, corresponding to the underlying metanarratives of disconnection and reconnection. Discussing the main differences of those metanarratives, besides of reconnection and disconnection, the dichotomies of upscaling and downscaling as well as of tangible and intangible are considered. Further it is explored how individuals can make a difference concerning sustainability transition. On this background, it is concluded that what is needed to face the challenges of cultural change towards sustainability is not a new and better narrative, but the personal capacity of becoming aware of narratives and how they influence our thinking and acting, i.e. reflexivity. That would lead to an independence making the individual apt to find alternative options and innovative solutions.
