Döbbe’s award-winning thesis, On the Politics of Responsibilization, explores a pressing issue in sustainability: how responsibility for addressing climate change is framed and allocated. Her work reveals a growing trend of placing responsibility for sustainable practices on consumers, a shift that can hinder effective climate action by focusing on individual choices rather than institutional or collective changes. By analyzing the narratives and practices shaping sustainable food production and consumption, Döbbe argues that this “responsibilization” often dilutes responsibility, delaying impactful responses to climate challenges.

Her thesis comprises four in-depth studies examining how responsibility dynamics unfold across different arenas, from global multi-stakeholder settings to consumer-facing business practices. Döbbe’s research finds that while calls for consumer responsibility are widespread, they may inadvertently shift focus away from the systemic changes needed to drive substantial climate progress. Her work offers a unique perspective on the “politics of responsibility,” challenging conventional views on who should bear the weight of sustainable practices.

“Receiving this year’s Oskar Sillén prize is a true honor for me. It acknowledges the relevance of studying how we attribute responsibility for issues like climate change and potential responses. It is also an encouragement for me (and, I hope, for others) to engage in research in organizing around pressing socio-ecological crises,” says Friederike Döbbe.

This recognition marks Döbbe’s thesis as a significant contribution to business administration and environmental studies, bringing new understanding to sustainability in the food sector and beyond. Her research encourages both policymakers and businesses to reconsider how responsibility is framed in order to mobilize more effective climate solutions.

Friederike Döbbe is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Bath.