Degrowth in the context of sustainability transitions: In search for a common ground

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study how sustainability transitions analytical framework can help to make other concepts of sustainable socio-economic development more specific and operational. Specifically, we investigate the linkages between sustainability transitions and degrowth. Both approaches to transitions – degrowth and sustainability transitions – are closely related. Ideologically, degrowth represents one of the most far-reaching forms of sustainability transitions, yet it would benefit from a more stringent conceptualization using the analytical framework of sustainability transitions. Based on a literature review of both degrowth and sustainability transitions, we distinguish several aspects which provide a common ground for both approaches. We apply some conceptual notions from sustainability transitions theory to describe the idea of a degrowth transition. Then, we analyse case studies of degrowth practices (mainly in an urban context), which demonstrate that they may be understood and managed as transition experiments.