Keywords: Solidarity Economy, Political strategy, participatory transition, degrowth process, social movements

Abstract: This is the very beginning of Degrowth visibility in Brazil: as a slogan, degrowth isn't understood; as movement, it is not acknowledge; as a theory or idea, it is an imported speech. Brazil is a continent-sized country with a “promising growing economy” and an oppressive social and economical disparity. If in one hand, Brazil wasn't hit by the economic crisis that still touches with more or less intensity, all Europe, since late 2000's; in the other hand, it is affected by corruption and power concentration (political, economic, resources). One of the reasons for immunization before the crisis is the huge pent-up demand in the Brazilian domestic market that made the new, enthusiastic, medium and lower classes a trump card for growth policies, which engenders all the negative consequences the degrowth current denounces. We conclude thereby, that Brazilian profile in contrast to the French, for instance, doesn't encourage more activists, politicians or academicians to get engaged in the transition process promoted through the Degrowth slogan. There is no wide questioning about the meaning of economic growth in relation to the idea of development, both being intimately linked in the imaginary of society and its institutions. This lack of questioning leads Brazil to the same path (and mistakes) that developed countries had in search of what was believed to be “progress”, “development” and “prosperity”. Nevertheless, we identify in Brazil a range of opportunities to promote a transition and to bring into the political debate the introduction of a new perspective of development, focused on human well-being in harmonious relationship with the environment. With this paper, we want to expose what has already been done and explore what can be done to raise awareness and spread solutions related to the issues raised by Degrowth. The objective of this paper is to identify actors (movements, networks, researches, politicians, practical experiences, opinion makers) in synergy with degrowth fundamentals and therefore, representing spaces for strengthening the debate and practical action that can serve as a reference in developing more accurate strategies to operate a "post-growth society". We will open the Degrowth political toolbox and show its connections to social and environmental movements that are gaining visibility and thus, space for growing in Brazil. Further, we will set up a few propositions that are likely to enhance the dialogue between the different movements and actors, as well as the cohesion within the degrowth partners.

Contribution to the 3rd International Degrowth Conference for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity in Venice in 2012.