Degrowth Dilemmas: Analysing the discourse of movement advocates in the debate on growth

Abstract

The degrowth movement offers an ambitious vision and proposal for a civilisational and ecological transformation alongside a coalition of transition discourses. Degrowth is growing in popularity among other green political economy discourses. However, it is still relatively unknown and politically undesirable compared to green growth. If it is accepted that the success of social movements is contingent, in part, on their discourse, then it becomes imperative that a gap in research on degrowth discourse be filled. This thesis examines why the degrowth movement remains marginal. I apply social movement theorising on framing and collective identity in a critical discourse analysis of intellectual advocates engaged in the debate on economic growth and degrowth. I offer observations in the form of dilemmas and invite proponents of degrowth to reflect on how their rhetoric contributes to the marginality of the movement. Degrowth proponents use negative frames and deviant language in an attempt to resist co-option and overcome the hegemonic growth paradigm. Paradoxically, some actors also reinforce master frames in an attempt to make persuasive arguments. This can be incongruent with the movement’s aims of decentering the logic of growth in their debates and for building alliances. I illustrate how movement intellectuals draw from the social languages of activists and scientists. When mixing the two cultures, they engage in tightrope talk and wield a double-edged sword. In a creative struggle, they use standard language in novel ways, counter–frame and reorient an understanding of the debate about economic growth, society and the environment. Doing so galvanises the degrowth movement and affirms their collective identity but simultaneously can agitate actual or potential allies from affiliated movements. I discuss how intellectual advocates might attract support and populate the margins of green political economy discourse if they see that they are also literary thinkers, coalition builders and creators of new stories, that support the degrowth proposal. They too have a role in empowering new narratives in support of heterogeneous transition pathways towards a post-growth future.