Diffusing innovations for revitalisation: Conditions and mechanisms across western European and CEE trade unions

This article examines why some trade unions are able to spread innovations aimed at revitalisation across their organisation, while similar initiatives elsewhere remain isolated. Drawing on innovation diffusion and union sociology literatures, it explores the conditions and mechanisms that enable organisation-wide adaptation of these innovations. The study analyses 12 cases from 10 union organisations in eight European countries, using a framework distinguishing between background, remote and proximate conditions. Configurational analysis identifies distinct pathways underpinning successful diffusion across varying institutional and organisational contexts. These pathways work through four generative mechanisms emerging via structure–agency dynamics: internal resource mobilisation; resource compensation; legitimacy assessment; and organisational learning. Based on case study insights providing contextual understanding, the mechanisms demonstrate how unions activate power resources through their agential capabilities to translate innovation-driven revitalisation into sustained organisational change.