Commoning and degrowth: a strategic alliance

This note is part of the Commoning Beyond Growth Workshop, which took place in Nottingham from June 5 to 7, 2024.

By Sergio Ruiz Cayuela

1. Degrowth in theory

Degrowth in three principles:

• Global ecological justice: selective decrease of global throughput
• Social justice and collective self-determination: undoing structures of domination and a good life for all
• Growth independence: transforming institutions and infrastructures

2. Degrowth in practice

• Anecdotal among grassroots
• Very influenced by academia
• Small scale and disconnected

3. Degrowth in trouble

Two interpretations:

1. Good strategy, wrong outcome
   • Asymmetric expansion of the movement
   • Assimilation of degrowth into mainstream politics
   • It becomes a buzzword
2. Wrong strategy, terrible outcome
   • Divergence between means and ends
   • Reproduction of the structures of domination

In both cases:

• Degrowth loses its emancipatory potential

4. Commoning & degrowth: a strategic alliance

1. Commoning as political substance
2. Commons as socio-ecological substance
3. Commoning as common sense

Commoning as political substance

• Commoning as a diverse set of practices shaped by their context, but based on sharing, direct democracy, cooperation and solidarity.
• Commoning becomes the political substance of degrowth, preventing excessive institutionalisation and ensuring the fulfillment of 2nd principle
• Also good for commons, since adegrowth orientation avoids cooptationfor profit or growth.

Commons as socio-ecological systems

• Commons as complex socio-ecological systems that can be coupled creating commons ecologies, increasing autonomy and ultimately becoming aviable alternative of subsistence and well-being.
• Practical way of thinking about the organisation of a degrowth society and the transition to it.
• It keeps commons within ecological limits. More-than-human and future generations.

Commoning as common sense

• Commoning as a transformation of subjectivity that highlights interdependence between collective and individual well-being.
• Commoning is practised by everyone to a some extent, so it provides a grounded point of connection.
• Adding a degrowth component might add slowness to commoning subjectivity, bringing about a more joyful militancy.

pdf Commoning and degrowth: a strategic alliance Sergio Ruiz Cayuela 2024