Innovation for de-growth: A case study of counter-hegemonic practices from Kerala, India
Pansera, Mario; Owen, Richard
Date: 14 July 2016
Article
Journal
Journal Cleaner Production
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Our research focuses on the cross-pollination of the discourses of innovation and (post)development in
the Global South. We suggest that the buzzword innovation is progressively infiltrating the lexicon and
situated practices of development. Within this a hegemonic framing of innovation is emerging that leverages
the language of ...
Our research focuses on the cross-pollination of the discourses of innovation and (post)development in
the Global South. We suggest that the buzzword innovation is progressively infiltrating the lexicon and
situated practices of development. Within this a hegemonic framing of innovation is emerging that leverages
the language of inclusion to promote connection to, and participation in, the global free market
economy. This, we hypothesise is closing down a broader debate concerning the goals and roles of
innovation and technology in the so called developing world. At the same time, our research suggests
that this emerging hegemony is contested, presenting as alternative, minority framings with different
normative underpinnings for technology and innovation that challenge the pro-growth and market-led
dominant paradigm. We present the results of one of these through a qualitative in-depth case study
conducted in the Indian state of Kerala. The case provides interesting insights for the degrowth community
in two regards. First it shows a concrete example of an alternative framing of technology
underpinned by a set of normative principles connected to those of degrowth. Second, the case shows
that alternative technological paradigms based on principles aligned with those of degrowth are not only
possible, but can and do co-exist with the hegemonic paradigm.
Management
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
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