From 2 to 6 September 2014, the Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity will take place in Leipzig, Germany. Proposals for special sessions have to be submitted until December 31st 2013, papers and abstracts until January 31st 2014.

The Degrowth Conference questions the importance of growth for economic policy and seeks to promote social and sustainable alternatives. The 2014 conference will give room for scientific debates, exchange between activists and economic/cultural pioneers and also artistic approaches to the subject. It is part of an international cycle of events: so far, there have been conferences on degrowth in Paris 2008, in Barcelona 2010 and in Venice and Montreal 2012.

Why degrowth?

Many analyses from various scientific disciplines imply that a growth-based economic and social system cannot have a future: Despite a growing number of technological solutions for a “Green Growth”, global emissions and the consumption of resources are significantly on the rise. It is now high time to develop economic and social models that are independent of growth, and to uncover viable alternatives to the imminent imperative of growth.

Conference Theme

The Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity conference seeks to bring practitioners, activists and scientists together and covers three main thematic threads:

1) Organizing a Degrowth Society – Emancipatory politics, participation,institutions
2) Building a social and ecological economy – (Re-)productivity, commons, society-nature relations
3) Living conviviality – Buen vivir, creative commons, knowledge & technology

On the website you find the Call for Papers for the scientific track, as well as information on the concept of the conference. We are very much looking forward to your submissions. If you have any questions or comments, please contact callforpapers@degrowth.de.

The review process will be concluded by the end of May, 2014