Dear colleagues and friends
We would like to remind you about our call for abstracts/papers on Technology
in Degrowth and Ecological Economics with you. It is for a sub-theme we would
like to propose for the 7th International Degrowth and 16th ISEE Joint
Conference in Manchester
<http://www.confercare.manchester.ac.uk/events/degrowth2020/sub-themes/> (1-5
September 2020)
Please share widely in your networks. Titles and short abstracts (500 words
max) can be sent directly to myself or any of the other convenors. The original
deadline was 23 October, but we are happy to consider abstracts sent in until
25 October. See further details below.
Best wishes
Christian Kerschner
Mario Pansera
Pasi Heikkurinen
Linda Nierling
Melf-Hinrich Ehlers
Andrea Jimenez
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Call for Abstracts/Papers for a sub-theme at the joint conference of Degrowth
and Ecological Economics in Manchester 2020
Technology in Degrowth and Ecological Economics
Convenors
Christian Kerschner, Mario Pansera, Pasi Heikkurinen, Linda Nierling,
Melf-Hinrich Ehlers, Andrea Jimenez
Sub-Theme Abstract
Technologically framed salvation strategies dominate the discourses of
sustainability without much critical scrutiny. Technology, however, is a factor
of utmost pertinence to sustainable change, or lack thereof (Bonnedahl and
Heikkurinen, 2019). Today we are bombarded by messages from industry,
government, media and NGOs that we cannot digitalize our lives fast enough, be
it for the sake of efficiency, to have more convenient lives or to rescue
economic growth. For those still believing in the green economy decoupling,
despite a broad rejection in the literature (see e.g. Parrique et al. 2019,
Hickel & Kallis 2019), technology and digitalization is even a precondition for
sustainability. Hastily new innovations like 5G are rolled out without
critical reflection or public consultation, despite warnings about potential
negative effects (Di Ciaula 2018).
The role of technology is heavily debated in the field of degrowth. Some call
to refrain from technology (Heikkurinen 2018), some want to appropriate it for
different purposes (Likavcan and Scholz-Wäckerle 2018), some identify clear
biophysical limits (Bonaiuti 2018, Gomiero 2018), some see certain technologies
to (potentially) threaten human societies (Samerski 2018), while others
consider certain technologies beneficial for democratization and alternative
forms of production and organization (Rommel et al 2018, Bradley 2018), for
example. In the field of ecological economics again, critical perspectives of
technology were initiated in its first years by Costanza (1989) and then
occasionally taken up by individual scholars (e.g., Roepke, 1996, Small and
Jollands 2006), However, overall technological enthusiasm and optimism seem to
remain an unchallenged reference point, if not the dominating view among
ecological economists (Kerschner and Ehlers, 2016). Strand et al. (2018) detect
similar patterns in “the master narrative of innovation for growth”, which
means that more innovation will result in more technology, that drives economic
growth and leads to jobs and welfare. They suggest that ecological economists
and degrowth researchers need to be better equipped to challenge this narrative.
The aim of this sub-theme is to advance recent debates on Degrowth and
Technology (see Kerschner et al. 2018) by integrating further critical
perspectives on technology, with regard to framings of key concepts and future
developments in general. We seek to extend the debate also beyond perspectives
from the western world, including for example voices from indigenous groups.
This includes political and colonial dimensions, where technology is used to
exert power over other human and non-human beings (see Pansera and Owen 2018).
In addition, this sub-theme aims at strengthening the dialogue and integration
between the critical perspectives on technology in the fields of degrowth and
ecological economics, for instance through biophysical and thermodynamic
approaches matter-energy flows and addressing questions of values and welfare.
Apart from the already mentioned issues we are particularly interested in the
following topics that emerged from the special issue on Degrowth and Technology
(Kerschner et al 2018):
1. Democratization of technology: The possible threats of broadening
access to technology need to be examined. It is unclear, for example how
appropriation of democratized technology by those who intend to inflict harm
upon others, such as 3D printing of weapons can be avoided.
2. Further integrated analysis (biophysical, sociological, psychological,
etc.) on potentials and limitations of no- and low-tech action, as well mindful
and meditative lifestyles is required. This includes ‘alternative experiences
with technology’ of communities in the past and today that already limit(ed)
technology (e.g. the Amish, indigenous communities or crass-root initiatives).
3. Gender and Degrowth Technology was touched upon by Vetter (2018), but
it remains underexplored. How is gender implicated in the design and selection
of technology? What might a Degrowth feminist approach to technology look like?
4. Can we learn from technologies that are broadly rejected by the
general public, such as cloning? What are the underlying ethical and social
norms for this rejection and how can they explicitly inform Degrowth
imaginaries?
5. Technology, power, war and violence: Intimate relationships between
power and technology are reflected in the military that is at the forefront of
technological development. Also violent movements employ technology in various
ways (e.g. motor vehicles in terror attacks). What does that mean for Degrowth
and Technology research?
6. Robotization and digitalization, including technologies such as ‘block
chains’ and visions like ‘Industry 4.0’, are in urgent need of analysis through
the lens of Degrowth, with respect to both potential and threats.
Contact details:
Those interested in participating in this special session may send a short
abstract (500 words max) to christian.kerschner@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:christian.kerschner@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Deadline for submission of abstracts extended to 25 October
References
Bonaiuti, M., 2018. Are we entering the age of involuntary degrowth? Promethean
technologies and declining returns of innovation. Journal of Cleaner
Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.196 ;
<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.196>
Bonnedahl, K. J., & Heikkurinen, P. (Eds.). (2018). Strongly Sustainable
Societies: Organising Human Activities on a Hot and Full Earth. Routledge:
London.
Bradley, K., 2018. Bike Kitchens – spaces for convivial tools. Journal of
Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.208 ;
<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.208>
Costanza, R., Cumberland, J., Daly, H., Goodland, R., Norgaard, R., 1998. An
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Di Ciaula, A. (2018) Towards 5G communication systems: Are there health
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(2018) 367–375.
Gomiero, T., 2018. Agriculture and degrowth: state of the art and assessment of
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<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.237>
Heikkurinen, P., 2018. Degrowth by means of technology? A treatise for an ethos
of releasement. Journal of Cleaner Production 197, 1654–1665.
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Pansera, M., Owen, R., 2018. Innovation for de-growth: a case study of
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<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.197>
Parrique T., Barth J., Briens F., C. Kerschner, Kraus-Polk A., Kuokkanen A.,
Spangenberg J.H., 2019. Decoupling debunked: Evidence and arguments against
green growth as a sole strategy for sustainability. European Environmental
Bureau.
Rommel, J., Radtke, J., von Jorck, G., Mey, F., Yildiz, Ö., 2018. Community
renewable energy at a crossroads: a think piece on degrowth, technology, and
the democratization of the German energy system. Journal of Cleaner Production
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<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.114>
Røpke, I., 1996. Technology optimism in a socio-economic perspective. Journal
of Income Distribution 6, 215–234.
Samerski, S., 2018. Tools for degrowth? Ivan Illich’s critique of technology
revisited. Journal of Cleaner Production 197, 1637–1646.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.039 ;
<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.039>
Small, B., Jollands, N., 2006. Technology and ecological economics: Promethean
technology, Pandorian potential. Ecological Economics 56, 343-358 %U
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<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.194>
Melf-Hinrich Ehlers
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