Politics of Sustainable Development

1
Politics of Sustainable Development

• 1. Introduction

2
Politics for Practitioners

• politics from the inside, sub-politics
• substantive orientation cultural politics
• focus on participation and agency
• cognitive approach, emphasis on knowledge

3
Based on

• Environmentalism and Knowledge, 1986-1990
• Public Participation and Environmental Science
  and Technology Policy Options (PESTO), 1996-1999
• The Transformation of Environmental Activism
  (TEA), 1998-2001

4
Change-Oriented Research

• Problem-driven, rather then disciplinary driven
• Intervention in ongoing process
• Reflective ambition
• Narrative form of presentation
• Participatory, dialogue methods
• Engagement, or involvement in what is studied

5
A Historical Perspective

• Long-term cyclical patterns
• Mobilization of cultural traditions
• Trajectory of movement development
• Focus on differences, contradictions

6
A Cognitive Approach

• Focus on knowledge in the making
• Action, or process orientation
• Comparative, or contextual ambition
• Dialectical method, identification of tensions

7
Politics as Cognitive Praxis

• connecting ideas and action
• articulation of knowledge interests
• movements as temporary spatial sites
• Importance of movement intellectuals

8
What is Cognitive Praxis?

• situated knowledge making
• linking theory to practice
• hybrid forms of agency
• exemplary learning

9
Dimensions of cognitive praxis

• Cosmology world-view assumptions
• Technology practical competence
• Organization situational context

10
The Cognitive Praxisof Environmental Movements

• Cosmological dimension
• systemic holism, limits to growth
• Technical dimension
• appropriateness, small is beautiful
• Organizational dimension
• collective learning sites, citizen science

11
From Movements to Institutions
1970s 1990s ecological society
sustainable development AT, small-scale cleaner
technologies citizen scientists professional
experts
12
Dialectics of Sustainable Development

• Green business Critical ecology
• Ecological modernization Environmental
  justice
• Instrumental rationality Communicative
  rationality
• Environmental management Environmental ethics
• Commercial orientation Community emphasis
• Expert solutions Public engagement