This is the first international master’s fully dedicated to research and policy for degrowth. The faculty consists of a diverse, international team of leading researchers in degrowth-related topics, who will share and discuss their latest research with students. Participants will receive training from these top academics in the field, learning about the fundamentals of degrowth theory while exploring current issues and debates. The program emphasises the connection between degrowth and social and environmental justice, building bridges to a world of ideas that challenge extractivism and growth-based development.
This course is designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in another field, are currently pursuing a PhD, or are professionals seeking to integrate degrowth into their research or career. It is also ideal for those who wish to explore alternatives to current ecological and economic challenges through either part-time or full-time learning (see FAQ for more information).
While we aspire to mobilise actors for change and provide the tools and knowledge to think critically and strategise more effectively, we are aware that our program does not teach someone how to be an activist or practitioner. However, learning also happens outside of the classroom with peers who often have decades of experience in commercial and non-profit sectors and often find ways to integrate degrowth principles and ideas into their personal and professional endeavours. This master’s program maintains a research-oriented focus on policy-making within the Global North while acknowledging the significant influence of Global South movements, academics, and concepts on the degrowth movement.
The courses being offered are the following :
1. FUNDAMENTALS OF DEGROWTH (6 ECTS ) 37.5 hours
Module Coordinator: Arpita Bisht
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 (Arpita Bisht)
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
Module Coordinator: Brototi Roy
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 to/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 (Tina Beigi, Morena Lemos)
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
Module coordinator: Filka Sekulova
1. Degrowth, cities, and the urban commons (Angelos Varvarousis)
Degrowth in the city, urban space and degrowth, urban planning for degrowth. New forms of urban commons and of thinking about the commons and their relationship to degrowth
2. Degrowth, well-being and meaningfulness (Filka Sekulova)
Theories of objective and subjective well-being, 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
Module coordinator: Claudio Cattaneo
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 (Nick Fitzpatrick)
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 post-growth 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.
5. DEGROWTH AND THE PLURIVERSE (6 ECTS ) 37.5 hours
Module coordinator: Marula Tsagkari
1. Pluriverse and degrowth (Marula Tsagkari, Bengi Akbulut, Marta Musić)
Introduction to the pluriverse of alternatives to development and situate degrowth within the diverse landscape of alternatives to colonial-capitalist economies of growth.
2. Monetary Imperialism: An Introduction (Ndongo Samba Sylla)
An introduction to the phenomenon of Monetary Imperialism from historical and political economy perspectives with an illustration based on the case of CFA franc using countries in West and Central Africa.
3. Socioecological transition frameworks from the margins/periphery (Sabrina Fernandes, Jesse Segura)
Exploration of socioecological transition frameworks from the margins/periphery and the role of degrowth in the struggle against old and new sacrifice zones, hegemonic notions of growth-based development (both from the left and the right) and its implications for ecological sovereignty.
4. Just Transition for a Multipolar World (Fadhel Kaboub)
Explores the concept of a just transition in the context of a multipolar world. It examines the challenges and opportunities for achieving a fair and equitable transition, taking into account the diverse perspectives and experiences of different regions and countries. It also explores the role of international cooperation and solidarity.
6. SEMINARS ON SOCIETY, ECONOMY, AND DEGROWTH (6 ECTS)
ModuLE Coordinator: Borja Nogue
Seminars on Society, Economy, and Degrowth
Housing for Degrowth (Francois Schneider ), 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 (Macia Blázques Salom), 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), Degrowth and Popular Culture (Lucia Muñoz Sueiro), Degrowth and Rurality (Julia Grosinger)