Abstract: As the concept of socio-ecological transformation is increasingly gaining momentum in both academic research and policy circles, contributions from the degrowth debate come very timely. This paper analyses the recent developments in the degrowth literature, highlighting its visions as regards transformation, by presenting its ontological assumptions, actors and strategies, as well as proposed tentative transformation pathways. By bringing together radical social theory and collective political action, degrowth is better described as an attempt to repoliticise the debate on transformation. With respect to research, degrowth researchers not only conduct “scientific analyses of societal transformations” but also “scientific analyses for societal transformations”. More than just a critique to GDP growth, degrowth provides a fundamental questioning of many of the current dominant institutions, and offers a tentative vision for a post carbon, post growth society. Thus degrowth, in its broadest sense, aims at offering a new political project to trigger a process of societal transformation.

This media entry was a contribution to the special session "Exploring transformation to a radical alternative society (RAGE)" at the 4th International Degrowth Conference in Leipzig in 2014.