Aggregating multiple transformative plots for a complex yet holistic sustainability narrative: A narratological approach

In futures studies and sustainability science, narratives are widely considered to play a crucial role in the sustainable transformation of society. Despite this, few studies have made a conceptual distinction between its two functions: the diachronic function, which is exerted in connecting temporally distant world phenomena, and the synchronic function, which connects phenomena at a particular point in time to provide a holistic understanding of the world’s complexity. Based on this argument, the present study addresses the question of how sustainability narratives can effectively integrate both functions simultaneously. To advance this inquiry, the present study extended Levin’s (1967) theoretical framework of multiple plots and proposed a procedure for aggregating diverse plots concerning society’s transition toward a sustainable future. The results of the case study revealed that this procedure is indeed applicable. The affinity of this procedure with the thought device of imaginary future generations advocated by Future Design is also discussed.