The courses being offered are the following :
1. FUNDAMENTALS OF DEGROWTH (6 ECTS ) 37.5 hours
1. Research on degrowth (Giorgos Kallis)
This course is based on the paper ‘Research on Degrowth’ by Kallis et al (2018). It will provide an overview of the history of degrowth ideas, and of the latest research, giving an overall orientation to the structure of the master’s program.
2. Global capitalism, inequality and growth (Jason Hickel)
Will cover aspects of early capitalist growth and colonialism, the links between capitalism, colonialization, un(der)paid work and environmental damage, with attention to theories of unequal exchange. Will discuss trends and debates around global poverty and inequality, and ponder on post-growth futures from a decolonial/Southern perspective.
3. Degrowth, environmental conflicts and global environmental justice (Mariana Walter & Christos Zografos)
Will present the Barcelona school’s approach to the study of commodity frontiers and ecological distribution conflicts, showing its relevance for making the case for degrowth. Will discuss questions of alliance between peasant/anti-extraction movements in the Global South and the degrowth movement in the North, and will approach debates around Green New Deals from critical, environmental justice perspectives.
2. ECONOMICS OF DEGROWTH (12 ECTS ) 75 hours
1. The hegemony of growth (Matthias Schmelzer)
History of GDP and the concept of growth and growthmanship. International/geopolitical contexts of growthmanship. Economization and the construction of the dominant ideas about what the economy is.
2. Ecological economics and degrowth ( Elke Pirgmaier)
A presentation of the basic elements of Ecological Economics (and macroeconomics) and how they relate/support degrowth arguments. Presentation of the research agenda of the two instructors on living well within planetary limits.
3. Social and Biophysical models of energy transition (Aljoša Slameršak, Joël Foramitti)
Presentation and explanation of IPAT-based, Agent-based, and IPCC/IAM climate-economy models with illustrations on topics relevant from a degrowth perspective. Strengths and weaknesses/limitations of macro-models.
4. Ecological economic models for degrowth (Simone D’Alessandro, Andre Cieplinski)
Presentation and explanation of the MEDEAS and EUROGREEN models, and how they work. Insights about degrowth. Strengths and weaknesses/limitations of macro-models.
5. Feminist economics and degrowth (Corinna Dengler)
Overview, history, and basic concepts of feminist economics and how they relate to thinking about degrowth. Critiques of degrowth from feminist perspectives. Degrowth-feminisms alliances, care economies/economics.
6. Decolonizing economics (Brototi Roy)
Presentation of the arguments of the movement seeking to decolonize economics. Thinking about the economy and growth through post-colonial authors and economists.
3. LIVING WITHOUT GROWTH (6 ECTS ) 37.5 hours
1. Degrowth, cities, and the urban commons (Angelos Varvaroussis)
Degrowth in the city, urban space and degrowth, urban planning for degrowth. New forms of urban commons and of thinking about the commons and relationship to degrowth
2. Degrowth, well-being and meaningfulness (Filka Sekulova)
Theories of objective and subjective wellbeing, meaningfulness in life and degrowth. Empirical and theoretical insights in the fields of meaning- and sense-making on individual and community level.
3. Anthropologies of degrowth (Susan Paulson, Onofrio Romano)
What anthropological studies of contemporary or pre and post-capital civilizations and communities offer to thinking about degrowth. The anti-utilitarian school, gift economies and degrowth. Thinking about degrowth from a Mediterranean perspective on the anthropological subject.
4. POLICIES & POLITICS FOR DEGROWTH (12 ECTS ) 75 hours
1. The state and degrowth (Giacomo D’Alisa)
What is the role of the state in a degrowth transition? This course reviews different theories of the state and articulates a Gramscian understanding of the state as relevant for thinking about the multi-layered politics of degrowth.
2. Policies for degrowth (Timothee Parrique)
Presentation of a Degrowth policy package: Work-sharing, Basic Incomes/Services, Green New Deal, Job Guarantee, Green and wealth taxes, Caps. Discussion of literature on policy design and political/public acceptability of degrowth-oriented policies.
3. Post-growth business (Veronica Devenin)
Explore cases and approaches that highlight how businesses may transform and become more compatible with a postgrowth scenario.
4. Strategies and organization for degrowth (Katya Chertkosvskaya)
Multiple strategies for organizing in a degrowth direction. The role of different forms of public, private and cooperative organizations in a degrowth transition.
5. Social movements, democracy and degrowth (Barbara Muraca, Christos Zografos)
Direct democracy and its relevance for degrowth. Recent research thinking on degrowth and democracy. Latest waves of social movements/mobilizations and their relevance for degrowth.
6. Degrowth and activism (Claudio Cattaneo, Manuel Grebenjak, Sara Fromm)
Direct action, science activism, and forms of non-capitalist community organizing relevant for degrowth.
Download the syllabus for this course
5. DEGROWTH AND THE PLURIVERSE (6 ECTS ) 37.5 hours
1. Post-development theory and degrowth (Wendy Harcourt, Shivani Kaul )
History and basic elements of the post-development school, and how they speak to current degrowth debates.
2. Pluriverse and degrowth (TBC)
Presentation of recent work on pluriverse, decolonialism and degrowth, given the recent publications, projects and edited volumes of the two instructors. Thinking about degrowth from Southern perspectives.
3. Degrowth and post-extractivism with a special focus on Latin America (TBC)
Overview of recent thought on post-extractivism from Latin America. Connections/frictions with degrowth, thinking about degrowth from a Latin American perspective.
6. SELECTED TOPICS (6 ECTS)
“Seminars on Society, Economy, and Degrowth”
Housing for Degrowth (Francois Schneider and Anitra Nelson), Urban Degrowth (Jin Xue), Radical alternatives from the global south (Ashish Kothari), Energy justice (Sofía Avila), Energy communities (Marula Tsagkari), Blue Degrowth (Borja Nogué-Algueró), Doughnut Economics (Mladen Domazet), Food for Degrowth (Sam Bliss), Tourism and Degrowth (Rob Fletcher), Debt/interest (Tilman Hartley), Degrowth and social enterprises (Eva Frankova), Design Global, Manufacture Local (Alekos Pantazis), Cultural Ecosystem services and degrowth (Kenija Hanacek), Degrowth in a growth-oriented world (Maiko Mathiessen)