Degrowth: From Utopia to Reality : An action research approach to start the Degrowth dialogue

Abstract: How can an idea that critiques the global capitalist system persist? How can a concept that opposes growth as indicator of wealth gather more and more supporters inside and outside of academia? How can a radical theory that challenges almost any societal structure convince us that it is something we must pursue? The Degrowth movement is often referred to as utopia, and not without good reason, as it is a relatively new concept that certainly still has its flaws. This thesis aims to start the Degrowth dialogue outside the ivory tower of academia. We use qualitative data gained from five focus groups to determine which components of Degrowth need the most clarification to make a movement evolve into a genuine theory. Our findings, brought forward by engaged discussions during the focus groups, showed potential for improvements of the Degrowth theory in the areas of education, societal norms and values as well as governmental policies and regulations. These insights allowed us to more specifically address the ambiguities of degrowth and counter them with opinions from experts to make Degrowth more accessible.