Christos Zografos
Monday 25th June, 12.00 – 13.30, ICTA-UAB
The class will focus on presenting and discussing the potential and challenges of direct democracy as a process that can facilitate a transition towards degrowth futures. Direct democracy is a collective decision-making process favoured by many advocates of degrowth – and more in general, advocates of radical social change – as a means for pursuing radical socio-ecological transformations, and as a preferred means for making decisions in degrowth societies of the future. But, is direct democracy really the most adequate way ahead for pursuing such transformation? What is so attractive about direct democracy, and what aspects of direct democratic decision-making could be challenging or even limiting when it comes to facilitating the types of radical and urgent socio-ecological transformations required by degrowth? What alternative practices and social processes could also be relevant? This class will critically call on the concept of direct democracy by reflecting upon those questions with the help of readings, and through student participation via a classroom activity.
Brief description of the method
This session will be a mixture between an interactive lecture and a participatory workshop on direct democracy and degrowth. Students will have to read one short encyclopaedia entry on direct democracy and degrowth, and a longer journal article before the class. During the class, they will be able to ask questions about those readings at the beginning of the class, and then participate in a classroom activity, which will be used to reflect on both (i) the concepts discussed in the readings, and (ii) refining challenges and opportunities for direct democracy as a vehicle for degrowth transformations and governance.
Compulsory readings :
Kallis, G., Kostakis, V., Lange, S., Muraca, B., Paulson, S. and Schmelzer, M., 2018. Research on Degrowth. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, (0), pp.4.16-4.18.
Zografos, C. 2015. Démocratie directe [Direct Democracy]. In: D’Alisa, G. Demaria, F.,
Kallis, G. Décroissance. Vocabulaire pour une nouvelle ère [Degrowth. Vocabulary for
a new era]. Neuvy-en-Champagne: Éditions le passager clandestine, pp: 187-194.
“Don’t they represent us?”: A discussion between Jacques Rancière and Ernesto Laclau (https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/2008-don-t-they-represent-us-a-discussion-
between-jacques-ranciere-and-ernesto-laclau)