Treibende

Treibende is a German term formed from the verb treiben (to drive, propel) and is used as a nominalized form or plural to denote those who drive or the forces that propel a process. In everyday and academic language it often appears in the plural as Die Treibenden or in fixed phrases such as Treibende Kräfte or Treibende Faktoren, meaning driving forces or factors that propel change.

Usage and meaning

Treibende refers to elements that provide momentum in a system, without naming a specific agent. It is common in economics, sociology, political science and related fields to identify the main drivers of development, growth or change. For example, Treibende Kräfte des wirtschaftlichen Wachstums highlights the key forces fueling growth, while Treibende Faktoren in einer Mobilisierung describe what motivates a social movement.

Relation to related terms

The term Treibende is related to Treiber, which more directly means “driver” and is often used for agents that initiate an outcome or, in technology, for hardware or software drivers. Treibende emphasizes the ongoing, propelling character of the forces or actors involved, rather than a single causative agent.

See also

Kräfte, Faktoren, Treiber. In specific disciplines, the exact phrasing—Treibende Kräfte, Treibende Faktoren—helps clarify whether one speaks of overarching momentum or specific driving agents.