Elites, elements and events: Practice theory and scale

► The article reviews recent perspectives in practice theory through a case study of Gandhi's Swadeshi movement. ► The notion of scale is discussed in reference to ontological flatness and the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). ► The article reviews practice theory's strengths, weaknesses and potential. ► Citing the three e's (elites, elements and events) pathways are explored for potential 'bottom-up' action to climate change. ► The article links the Swadeshi movement to a possible transition to a cycling transport system.