DEGROWTH IN TRANSFORMATION

Präsentation zum Thema: "DEGROWTH IN TRANSFORMATION"—  Präsentation transkript:

1 DEGROWTH IN TRANSFORMATION
The status quo and possible perspectives of the German degrowth movement – a qualitative, actor-centered and explorative approach INSIGHTS FROM MY MASTERTHESIS JANA HOLZ September 2nd Budapest Degrowth Conference

2 DEGROWTH IN TRANSFORMATION – Content
PROJECT QUESTIONS & GOALS METHODS ANALISYS AND DISCUSSION FOUR SCENARIOS FOR THE DEGROWTH MOVEMENT CONCEPTIONS OF CHANGE STRATEGIC QUESTIONS AHEAD Degrowth Conference Budapest

3 PROJECT - Introduction
Master’s thesis in future studies (Zukunftsforschung) at Freie Universität Berlin (submitted February 2016); Interviews (August & September 2015) with five actors of the movement that ?played central roles in organizing the 4th International Degrowth Conference in 2014 in Leipzig; Explorative, qualitative and actor-centered research design combining approaches of qualitative network analysis and grounded theory methodology; The network perspective is used to visualize the status quo and future perceptions; a movement is understood as a network of actors, ideas and occasions that altogether form and transform it. Results: Discussion of four scenario ideas for the German degrowth movement in 2020 & conceptions of transformation from within the movement. Degrowth Conference Budapest

4 QUESTIONS & GOALS GOAL I
Opening perspectives on the status quo and future development of the German degrowth movement. How is the current network of the degrowth movement in Germany perceived by its actors – and what are the future perceptions and visions (2020)? What are deducible processes of transformation and development for the movement? GOAL II Opening a range of possibilities and room for self-reflection and self-transition of the German degrowth movement Wie wird das aktuelle Netzwerk der Postwachstumsbewegung in Deutschland durch ihre Akteure wahrgenommen, und wie wünschen sich die Akteure das Netzwerk zukünftig (2020)? Welche Wandlungsprozesse und Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten der Bewegung lassen sich daraus ableiten? Degrowth Conference Budapest

5 METHODS I – Combination of qualitative network analysis and grounded theory methodology (GTM)
OUTCOME: Conceptions of transformation and development for the degrowth movement in Germany Coding with GTM (1) open (2) axial (3) selective Four Dimensions: Structures of SQ-networks Actors of the movement Discursive context Conceptions of transformation Network analysis Systematization & qualitative introduction of networks Data Transcripted interviews Visualisation of network maps Personalised data of IP‘s Network analysis Systematicalisation of networks: number, type, position of actors and connections in the network maps Introduction of networks Introdcution of interview partners (IP) Coding with GTM Open axial selective Dimensions: Structures of SQ-networks Actors of the movement Discursive context Conceptions of transformation Data Interviews & network maps Degrowth Conference Budapest

6 METHODS II – Five interview partners (IP‘s) & ten network perceptions
Qualitative interviews with five protagonists of the German degrowth movement: #IP1: The degrowth movement is a small circle characterized by various connections and 'docking points'; focus on degrowth conference as moment of inspiration; #IP2: The degrowth movement is characterized by a complex constellation of actors; need of left- wing Degrowth; need for more centralized structures; #IP3: The degrowth movement moves from theory to practice; network characterized by intellectual fathers and mothers & 'right to a good life for everybody' as central future idea; #IP4: The degrowth movement needs to be practical; institutions and publications central to current degrowth network & wish for places of convivial change; #IP5: The degrowth movement is critique of domination, capitalism and patriarchy; network is characterized by reformist and radical actors & goal should be to establish bridges between the positions Degrowth Conference Budapest

7 METHODS III – Network maps – status quo & future
2015 2020 Persons Institutions Organizations Groups Books Events Ideas Headlines Positive connections Conflicts Example status quo network map (#IP1) Example future network map (#P3) Degrowth Conference Budapest

8 METHODS IV – Dimensions of coding
Discursve context Degrowth networks and its processes of transformation Structures of status quo networks Actors of the movement Conceptions of transformation Degrowth Conference Budapest

9 ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION Scenarios and Conceptions of change
Degrowth Conference Budapest

10 FOUR SCENARIOS FOR THE DEGROWTH MOVEMENT
Imagine the year 2020 – what does the degrowth network in Germany look like? 1. Keep on going and grow bigger 2. Degrowth as a perspective on science between academia and practice 3. Degrowth as political transformation – both in an institutional and a resistance way 4. Awareness and self-transformation as basis for social transformation Degrowth Conference Budapest

11 1. Keep on going and grow bigger
SCENARIO ONE 1. Keep on going and grow bigger Professionalization of the movement Internal and external connections & networking Inclusive and pluralistic conception Expansion of actors Degrowth Conference Budapest

12 2. Degrowth as a perspective on science between academia and practice
SCENARIO TWO 2. Degrowth as a perspective on science between academia and practice Research functions as a bridge between theory and practice New research institutes emerge Degrowth research is: sufficiently funded international and well connected decentrally organized, convivial and independent Degrowth Conference Budapest

13 3. Degrowth as political transformation
SCENARIO THREE 3. Degrowth as political transformation Degrowth as an explicit political movement and understanding of transformation Degrowth as politically established Degrowth as a practical way towards social transformation Focus on critique of current and capitalistic work and time structures Migration as a subject of degrowth perspectives Degrowth Conference Budapest

14 4. Awareness and self-transformation
SCENARIO FOUR 4. Awareness and self-transformation A shift in awareness and emotionality as a basis for transformation Focus on the single individual Shift in perspectives and practical forms of resistant life styles Grass-roots democracy and inclusive processes Focus on group processes and positive community building Degrowth Conference Budapest

15 CONCEPTIONS OF TRANSFORMATION
Alternative options to think about in regards to emerging social movements to be found within the scenarios and future conceptions of the movement: antagonistic & non-antagonistic understandings of change; institutional & individual change as the main focus point; global & local issues, actors and points of view; decentral & central vision of movement and change; praxis & theory in focus. (Not necessarily contradictory approaches but different focusses.) Degrowth wird als multipler, inklusiver und pluralistischer Ansatz- und Andockpunkt an politische und gesellschaftliche Transformation konzipiert, innerhalb dessen sich die Unterscheidung zwischen antagonistischen und nicht-antagonistischen Ansätzen an Wandel ausbalanciert. Professionalisierung und Institutionalisierung der Bewegungsarbeit sind ebenso gewünscht wie Selbsttransformation und das Ausprobieren praktischer Alternativen. Thematisch sowie strukturell lassen sich sowohl internationale Akteure wie Themen und ein Fokus auf die lokale Verortung der Bewegung finden. Die Zukunftsvorstellungen bewegen sich in einem Kontinuum von zentralen und großen Organisationen in der Mitte der Bewegung hin zu vielen kleinen, dezentralen Orten des Wandels als zentrale Akteure. Betonung der Bewegungspraxis und der Forschung an konkreten Alternativen anstatt theoretischer Dispute. Degrowth Conference Budapest

16 STRATEGIC QUESTIONS AHEAD …
How is the relation between the degrowth movement and institutionalized politics – and vice versa? How can it be shaped? Future character of the movement: pluralistic and at same time resistant and critical? How can sustainable and future-oriented living and working conditions be created – from within the movement? Currently, trade unions are pro-growth actors – how can they become part of a degrowth movement/a degrowth actor? Degrowth wird als multipler, inklusiver und pluralistischer Ansatz- und Andockpunkt an politische und gesellschaftliche Transformation konzipiert, innerhalb dessen sich die Unterscheidung zwischen antagonistischen und nicht-antagonistischen Ansätzen an Wandel ausbalanciert. Professionalisierung und Institutionalisierung der Bewegungsarbeit sind ebenso gewünscht wie Selbsttransformation und das Ausprobieren praktischer Alternativen. Thematisch sowie strukturell lassen sich sowohl internationale Akteure wie Themen und ein Fokus auf die lokale Verortung der Bewegung finden. Die Zukunftsvorstellungen bewegen sich in einem Kontinuum von zentralen und großen Organisationen in der Mitte der Bewegung hin zu vielen kleinen, dezentralen Orten des Wandels als zentrale Akteure. Betonung der Bewegungspraxis und der Forschung an konkreten Alternativen anstatt theoretischer Dispute. Degrowth Conference Budapest

17 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Degrowth Conference Budapest