Schedule 9th International Degrowth Conference

My participatory-based research empirically applies degrowth theories to landscape planning at local level. The transition to degrowth depends on the dynamic relations between political and civil societies, and their environments. I focus on how possible leverages can be identified, analysed and translated into viable policy strategies. I ask: “How can common senses facilitate a peaceful transition to a degrowth future?”
I use Antonio Gramsci’s concept of the integral state and apply the idea of “common senses.” Common senses constitute the invisible, frequently unconscious foundation of different societies. These common senses are dynamically interlinked with policy regulations (land use plans) and physical infrastructures (e.g. forests, roads, bicycle lanes). Common senses, regulations and existing infrastructures have to correspond and align with a peaceful transition to the reality humanity is facing from 2050 onwards. The analysis of the hegemonic discourse allows analysing societal path dependencies or transformations.
My interdisciplinary methodology is walking. My main interest is to reveal actors’ unconscious perceptions their physical environment and ultimately their idea what a ‘good’ society is. These individual walks are spatially explicit traced. Collective walks will revisit most common infrastructures to discuss how these infrastructures could be preserved to contribute to a viable future. My case study is a Spanish town located in the Pyrenees.
Academically, I focus on degrowth theories and borrow simultaneously concepts of related fields (science and technology studies, environmental justice, social ecology). This research advances knowledge and practice on transition. Further, it connects human-nature relations profoundly to degrowth theory.

Info

Day: 2023-08-30
Start time: 16:30
Duration: 00:15
Room: ZV-8-3
Type: Paper Presentation
Theme: Hegemonic worldviews and degrowth horizon

Links:

• iCalendar

Files

• The role of common senses at local scale for the transition to a degrowth society