The recently developed Deep Transitions framework has so far been mainly used to explore the first deep transition towards industrial modernity. This paper looks at a potential second deep transition towards a circular economy, which is hoped to lead to a more sustainable global economic system. Our focus is on exploring the role of the EU in developing and diffusing this emerging set of rules. We draw on ideas from the international relations literature to explain why and how the EU adopted the idea of a circular economy, helped formulate it into a set of rules and how it promoted its international diffusion. The paper concludes with lessons about the case and critical reflections about the Deep Transitions framework. In particular, we argue for taking a more actor-based approach when researching the unfolding second deep transition.

到目前为止，最近开发的“深度过渡”框架主要用于探索向工业现代性的第一个深度过渡。本文着眼于向循环经济的第二次深层次过渡，希望这将导致更可持续的全球经济体系。我们的重点是探索欧盟在制定和推广这套新兴规则方面的作用。我们利用国际关系文献中的观点来解释欧盟为什么以及如何采用循环经济的思想，将其制定为一套规则，以及如何促进其国际传播。本文以有关案例和有关Deep Transitions框架的批判性反思作为结尾。特别是，我们认为在研究正在进行的第二次深层过渡时，应采取基于演员的方法。