What is Degrowth? From an Activist Slogan to a Social Movement

TLDR

Degrowth, a French term meaning reduction, emerged in 2001 as an activist challenge to economic growth, sparking debate and becoming a unifying frame for a diverse social movement that seeks to re‑politicise socio‑environmental futures and is now being incorporated into academic literature. The article aims to clarify degrowth’s definition, origins, evolution, practices, and construction, and to refine its basic definition while countering reductionist criticisms. It does so by outlining degrowth’s intellectual roots, its varied strategies—oppositional activism, alternative building, and political proposals—and the actors involved, including practitioners, activists, and scientists. The article concludes that despite its diversity, the degrowth movement shares a common trajectory.

Abstract

Degrowth is the literal translation of ‘décroissance’, a French word meaning reduction. Launched by activists in 2001 as a challenge to growth, it became a missile word that sparks a contentious debate on the diagnosis and prognosis of our society. ‘Degrowth’ became an interpretative frame for a new (and old) social movement where numerous streams of critical ideas and political actions converge. It is an attempt to re-politicise debates about desired socio-environmental futures and an example of an activist-led science now consolidating into a concept in academic literature. This article discusses the definition, origins, evolution, practices and construction of degrowth. The main objective is to explain degrowth's multiple sources and strategies in order to improve its basic definition and avoid reductionist criticisms and misconceptions. To this end, the article presents degrowth's main intellectual sources as well as its diverse strategies (oppositional activism, building of alternatives and political proposals) and actors (practitioners, activists and scientists). Finally, the article argues that the movement's diversity does not detract from the existence of a common path.