Southern thought, islandness and real-existing degrowth in the Mediterranean
Kallis, Giorgos (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Petridis, Panos (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Institute of Social Ecology)
Varvarousis, Angelos (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2022
Abstract:	In thinking about alternatives to growth-based development, we draw attention to Mediterranean islands and the way they animate imaginaries and practices of a simple life. We follow Franco Cassano's thesis of 'Southern thought' - a critique of Western developmentalism, prioritizing instead values of slowness, moderation and conviviality. These values are central to what Serge Latouche and others call 'degrowth'. Drawing on fieldwork and ethnography from Ikaria and Gavdos, two remote islands in the Greek archipelago, we show how Southern thought, and forms of real-existing degrowth develop in relation to 'islandness' - a physical and cultural condition specific to small islands. Geography, historical contingency, and processes of myth-making combine to re-valorise what otherwise would be seen as 'undeveloped' places, thereby generating space for real-existing degrowth.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CEX2019-000940-M Agencia Estatal de Investigación CSO2017-88212-R
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Southern thought ; Degrowth ; Post-development ; Frugal abundance ; Alternative economic practices ; Islands ; Islandness
Published in:	World development, Vol. 157 (September 2022) , art. 105957, ISSN 1873-5991

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105957

11 p, 469.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles