Embodying Economic Change:
De-Growth and Localisation Practices in Totnes, United Kingdom
Economic growth has monopolised perceptions of how societal progress can be measured for decades, and economic change is often seen as being controlled by policy-makers and big business only. However, the increased financial and environmental instability currently facing many peoples across the world encourages questioning of economic ‘business as usual’. Some scholars now reject economic growth as a suitable indicator of success and instead advocate for de-growth, accompanied by a transition to economic localisation; smaller, more local economies, requiring less environmentally damaging production and consumption.
This thesis explores attitudes and behaviours relating to the rejection of economic growth and adoption of economic localisation in practice amongst the Transition community in Totnes in the United Kingdom. The thesis draws upon three months fieldwork research conducted in Totnes, completed by Florence Scialom as part of her Masters in Cultural Anthropology at Leiden University in the Netherlands from 2013-2014.
De-Growth and Localisation Practices in Totnes, United Kingdom
Economic growth has monopolised perceptions of how societal progress can be measured for decades, and economic change is often seen as being controlled by policy-makers and big business only. However, the increased financial and environmental instability currently facing many peoples across the world encourages questioning of economic ‘business as usual’. Some scholars now reject economic growth as a suitable indicator of success and instead advocate for de-growth, accompanied by a transition to economic localisation; smaller, more local economies, requiring less environmentally damaging production and consumption.
This thesis explores attitudes and behaviours relating to the rejection of economic growth and adoption of economic localisation in practice amongst the Transition community in Totnes in the United Kingdom. The thesis draws upon three months fieldwork research conducted in Totnes, completed by Florence Scialom as part of her Masters in Cultural Anthropology at Leiden University in the Netherlands from 2013-2014.
| embodying_economic_change_by_florence_scialom.pdf |
Florence has written several further articles about her research, which you can access via the external links below:
· Speckmann Prize Winner 2014: Re-Framing Economics Through Local Community Action
(on Leiden University’s Anthropology blog)
· The Importance of Contributing During Anthropological Research
(on the Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology Leiden blog)
· Citizen Engagement in Re-Defining Measures of Progress in Local Economies
(on Groningen University’s Sustainable Citizenships pages)
· Hungry for Change: Transitioning to Local Food Supplies
(in Stir to Action)
If you would like to get in touch with Florence you can do so via email ([email protected]) or Twitter (@Flo_Sci).
· Speckmann Prize Winner 2014: Re-Framing Economics Through Local Community Action
(on Leiden University’s Anthropology blog)
· The Importance of Contributing During Anthropological Research
(on the Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology Leiden blog)
· Citizen Engagement in Re-Defining Measures of Progress in Local Economies
(on Groningen University’s Sustainable Citizenships pages)
· Hungry for Change: Transitioning to Local Food Supplies
(in Stir to Action)
If you would like to get in touch with Florence you can do so via email ([email protected]) or Twitter (@Flo_Sci).
