Leapfrogging toward sustainability – dynamics from a developing city perspective

This thesis aims to support rapid sustainable urban development within developing cities through an exploration of leapfrogging processes within neighbourhood blue-green services in Surabaya, Indonesia. An in-depth empirical case study identifies the key enabling factors and actor roles that supported a rapid transformation within Surabaya. In doing so, it introduces a systems perspective and socio-institutional dynamics into a leapfrogging, and re-conceptualises leapfrogging as a strategy to accelerate sustainability transitions. The thesis concludes with a framework to assist other cities in applying the lessons from Surabaya to support their own rapid sustainable development.