City Research Online

Abstract

This study examines the role of culture in the Triple Transition, a task that it argues requires rethinking how we understand culture. It argues that these questions rest on a further problematic relationship of culture and development, challenging the normative idea that culture is an instrumental communication tool that facilitates development. The study argues that we need to appreciate culture in development, namely as a system of practices, values (economic, environmental, social, and cultural), and institutions that are embedded in places and times. We review the impact on, and of, the culture and creative sector in each dimension of the triple transition: digital, social, and environmental. The review of findings across the areas of the triple transition (digital, social, and environmental) suggests that culture plays an intrinsic role in development, better described as a driver of change rather than a bystander.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright © 2026 Pratt. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Publisher Keywords:	creative economy, culture, development, heterodox approach, triple transition
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Departments:	School of Communication & Creativity School of Communication & Creativity > Department of Media, Culture & Creative Industries
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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