What social-ecological transformation strategy suits you the most?
Ekaterina Chertkovskaya addresses this question in her contribution to Degrowth & Strategy
Navigating Degrowth & Strategy series: the key insights of the book #1
Welcome to the first publication of the “Navigating Degrowth & Strategy” series, delving into the core ideas of the book Degrowth & Strategy. The book is a collaborative effort, bringing together authors, scholars, and activists with diverse backgrounds, convened by Degrowth Vienna. The goal is to propel discussions that came out of the Degrowth Vienna Conference 2020 on Strategies for social-ecological transformations.
In this inaugural article, we turn our attention to the insightful chapter penned by Ekaterina Chertkovskaya, a researcher based in Lund specializing in degrowth and critical organization studies, and member of the editing team of the book. Her contribution in the book takes a distinctive approach, offering analytical tools for those embracing degrowth to map out their transformative modes of action. In dialogue with Erik Olin Wright’s analytical framework on transformation strategies for breaking away from capitalism, she elaborates a new canva tailored specifically for the context of degrowth. This contribution aims to enhance clarity and strategic direction for those advocating for social-ecological transformation within the degrowth paradigm. Let’s explore the key ideas and perspectives Ekaterina Chertkovskaya brings to defining strategies for degrowth movements.
Interstitial strategies: building alternatives at the margin of the system
The essence of degrowth movements lies in their foundational connection to interstitial transformation. This approach involves constructing alternatives to the existing system by operating at its margins. At the heart of degrowth’s grassroots movements, this strategy embodies the implementation of principles such as relocalization, repoliticization, and social empowerment.
Within the category of interstitial transformation, two strategic logics guide actionable steps. The first, termed “resisting,” involves capturing the attention of politicians, organizations, and the public. Examples include climate demonstrations, which have the potential to mobilize and create spaces for reflection. However, it’s essential to note that these actions primarily serve to draw attention and raise awareness, without necessarily aiming to transcend existing structures at this stage. They lay the groundwork for future steps in the transformative process.
On the other hand, the “escaping” strategy entails creating collective and egalitarian ways of living, often manifested through initiatives like running a community or a cooperative. While this approach materializes in real-life examples, it remains somewhat niche, operating at the margins of society and limiting its capacity to address global issues comprehensively. Ekaterina Chertkovskaya contends that degrowth movements have the potential to transcend the confines of mere “escaping” from capitalism. Instead, they can actively engage in “building alternatives” and establishing power structures outside the capitalist system. This involves encouraging strategic direction within the movement, such as creating networks that extend beyond isolated initiatives, fostering a more influential and impactful collective effort.
Symbiotic strategies: changing the system from the inside
The symbiotic mode of action revolves around the principle of instigating change from within the system. This strategy entails efforts to influence policies across various levels of governance—ranging from local to national and even supranational—in order to gradually redirect them away from the pursuit of growth. The focus is on actively engaging with existing structures and decision-makers to bring about systemic change by reshaping policies in alignment with degrowth principles.
Ekaterina Chertkovskaya distinguishes two strategy possibilities for degrowth movements. The first is the “taming” strategy, which seeks to adopt policies aligned with degrowth principles without fundamentally restructuring the system. An example would be the reduction of working hours. The second is “dismantling,” involving the implementation of policies that reshape power relations in society, such as transforming large corporations into cooperatives.
Successful transformation requires the integration of both strategies. Dismantling alone may fall short if institutions continue to prioritize growth. Simultaneously, taming should be radical and avoid becoming a diluted compromise. Symbiotic strategies entail confronting powerful institutions and corporations and they carry the risk of critical voices being co-opted. It emphasizes the importance of carefully navigating the balance between influencing existing structures and advocating for more transformative changes.
Ruptural strategies: broadening the scope of degrowth approaches to challenge established socio-economic structures
While the degrowth movement typically does not engage with “Ruptural transformation” as defined by Wright, involving a direct attack against the nation-state with a revolutionary agenda, Ekaterina Chertkovskaya introduces the idea that degrowth ruptural strategies can manifest at a local scale, such as blocking a coal mine.
She identifies two distinct strategies within the realm of ruptural transformation. The first is “halting,” characterized by disobedience actions, while the second is “smashing,” which aspires for a direct and transformative rupture with existing socio-economic structures.
Additionally, she introduces the “halting capitalism” strategy, involving frontal confrontation with structures without necessarily transcending them. This could manifest, for instance, in activities such as occupying an area slated for extraction. This type of strategy has the potential to create momentum for transformative change. For example, occupying an area not only produces space for interstitial strategies but also influences future policies by exerting pressure on governments.
Moreover, as the system is cracking, revealing its increasing violence and absurdity, there is a growing likelihood that more opportunities will arise for ruptural actions in the coming years. This recognition underscores the evolving dynamics within the degrowth movement and its potential to embrace a spectrum of strategies to challenge and reshape prevailing socio-economic structures.
Multiple and flexible strategies
In the end, the various types of strategies within the degrowth movement intertwine and intersect. Their diversity mirrors the plural nature of the movement itself. The canvas is designed to assist degrowth movements and their allies in identifying their terrain for social-ecological transformation based on their specific circumstances.
For instance, an organization operating in an oppressive political regime may be inclined to employ a combination of ruptural and interstitial strategies due to the challenging context. On the other hand, an organization closely aligned with the EU, focused on promoting agendas, might lean towards symbiotic strategies. Grassroots organizations, by nature, tend to gravitate towards interstitial strategies.
It’s crucial to emphasize that strategies should be flexible, adaptive, and not static. They are inherently multiple, as a single group may pursue various types of actions based on the dynamic nature of their goals and the evolving external landscape. This adaptability underscores the necessity for an approach that responds to changing circumstances and enhances the impact of degrowth efforts.
The book is available in paperpack and free online at www.degrowthstrategy.org, have a look!
References
Ekaterina Chertkovskaya.
“Chapter 2: A strategic canvas for degrowth: in dialogue with Erik Olin Wright”
In Nathan Barlow, Livia Regen, Noémie Cadiou, Ekaterina Chertkovskaya, Max
Hollweg, Christina Plank, Merle Schulken and Verena Wolf (eds). “Degrowth &
Strategy: how to bring about social-ecological transformation”. Published by
Mayfly Books. 2022.
Wright, Erik O. 2009. Envisioning Real Utopias. London: Verso
Wright, Erik O. 2019. How to be an Anti-Capitalist in the 21th Century. London: Verso