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03. The ecological economics of ecocommunities
The case of urban and rural squatters as antagonist autonomous practices is that of radical social movements. How do they go beyond the volountary simplicity and the indignados movements?
They are presented from an oikonomic perspective of how needs are satisfied with little money use, communal self-organization and less resource use.
The case of Can Masdeu is explored, and other models of community self-organization are offered.
A redefinition of the "economic" is set, which overcomes the socially and ecologically unsustainable system of production and consumption.
These practices of self-organization go beyond market and state capitalism. The potential and limits of how these can be scaled up from the squat community are explored.
Squatting, as antagonist autonomous practices, in which initiative is undertaken from the grassroots, is part of radical social movements in conflict with economic and political order, it undertakes direct action civil disobedience and active resistance. It goes beyond the voluntary simplicity movement, which lacks a communal dimension and is based on burgeois individualism, and beyond indignados aiming at changing the system from below (bottom-up politics). Instead squatters and neo-rural believe in creating solidarity networks (bottom-bottom practices): rather than claiming, they set up practices for a better life using available spaces for its direct achievement.
From an economic perspective, quality of life and needs are satisfied not only in economic/monetary way, but also with direct means employed for a good life. Needs are satisfied with little money use, reduced use of natural resources, more recycling and re-using (beginning from abandoned buildings and lands) and a lot of communal self-organization. Use of time is the central oikonomic element: for earning individual or collective money, or for direct satisfaction of needs.
Can Masdeu and other rural communities are explored, valuable organizational insights are offered from a comparison of rural communities. A redefinition of the "economic" where the socially and ecologically unsustainable system is overcome with degrowth principles, values and practices. A political degrowth vision is offered.
Info
Room:
Tent/Zelt 17
Track:
Courses/Kurse
Language:
En
Links:
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Speaker
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Cattaneo Claudio |