In spite of the last decades’ environmental and socio-economic crisis the revived emphasis on economic growth draws attention to the failure of the attempts to construct a more sustainable economic system. Sustainability theories often intend to smooth over the problems embedded within neoclassical economics by encouraging a more “enlightened” model of practice, essentially trying to fix complex social-ecological problems generated by a neoclassic economic system with tools from its own toolbox. This paper argues that the failure of the neoclassical approach goes beyond its conceptual framework and that a different economic paradigm is required to overcome today’s challenges.
The paper presents a case study on an organization that attempts to satisfy human needs within ecological boundaries while offering meaningful activities. This case of a degrowth-inspired organization is called Cargonomia and operates in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Cargonomia is a partnership between social cooperatives and a social enterprise. Being a cooperation between a cargobike messenger company, a biodynamic farm and low-tech design and fabrication cargobike workshop, Cargonomia operates as a food distribution and cargobike sharing point. Moreover, Cargonomia offers an open convivial space for community and educational activities related to degrowth, well-being, ecology and sustainable transition. Cargonomia is coordinated by five committed members and, also cooperates with several other local partners. Today, Cargonomia with its diverse activities aims to present an alternative way of organizing not only economic activities but to question the meaning of work, re-appropriate technology and to construct urban sustainability.
In 2016-2017 the five core participants engaged themselves in a participatory action research (PAR) process. Through critical reflection on Cargonomia’s activities the research process assists to answer practical issues, deepen understanding of the alternative activities embraced by the organization with the help of academic knowledge. The participation of practitioners and researchers allows the democratic sharing of knowledge or, in other words, re-appropriating knowledge to serve experimenting with an alternative form of social organization of economic activities. PAR through re-appropriation of knowledge creation is crucial for a democratic transition toward a more desirable society which is based on the capacity of knowing and acting (Reason, 2006; Fals Borda – Rahman, 1991).
The aim of this PAR is to face, understand and successfully solve some challenges and strengthen Cargonomia’s positive social impact. The main research question raised will focus upon what are the resilience mechanisms of the Cargonomia-model occupying "new innovative niche" within a dominant surrounding regime. Through PAR, participants aim to identify the main challenges facing the dominant economics system and identify those mechanisms or characteristics which assist Cargonomia to survive and provide a critical edge that includes the seeds of an alternative system.
To answer these question participants build on degrowth (Demaria et al., 2013), solidarity economy (Laville – Salmon, 2015) and the substantive understanding of the economy (Polanyi, 1957). Based on the preliminary findings, the key seems to be the diversity of actions and activities. At the organizational level, the success of Cargonomia is based on the synergy between three different, but very complementary organizations supported by a lot of other – educational or practical – activities. Cargonomia operates either within the system or through voluntary, reciprocity- and solidarity-based activities. The diversity of these economic logics, or what Laville and Salmon (2015) calls plurality of economic activities, becomes essential in facing every-day challenges while trying to present alternatives to the neoclassical economic system. One of the outcomes of the ongoing research process is to present Cargonomia as a practical model for future economic projects.
Cargonomia also offers a space for its participants where they as civil actors through their (economic) activities can express their political views, engagement in social movements and their belief in a democratic transition toward more environmental and social justice. Some of the limits of Cargonomia model being experienced is the contradiction between the will to increase social impact by being more effective or by growing, or remain a convivial but relatively small space. Cargonomia today is a showcase of an organization which aims to satisfy human needs within the ecological boundaries creating a convivial space for community events to re-appropriate knowledge.
Demaria, F.; Schneider, F.; Sekulova, F.; Martinez-Alier, J. (2013): What is Degrowth? From an Activist Slogan to a Social Movement. Environmental Values. 22: 191–215.
Fals-Borda, O.; Rahman, M. A. (1991): Action and Knowledge: Breaking the Monopoly with Participatory Action Research. Rowman & Littlefield
Laville, J.-L.; Salmon, A. (2015): Rethinking the relationship between governance and democracy: the theoretical framework of the solidarity economy. In Jean-Louis Laville, Dennis R. Young, Philippe Eynaud (eds.) Civil Society, the Third Sector and Social Enterprise: Governance and Democracy, Routledge
Polanyi, K. (1957): Trade and Market in the Early Empires: Economies in History and Theory. New York– London: Collier-Macmillan
Reason, P. (2006): Choice and Quality in Action Research Practice. Journal of Management Inquiry. 15(2): 1-18.
9. Social and solidarity economy, civil society and social movements
