ECPR

Install the app

Install this application on your home screen for quick and easy access when you’re on the go.

Just tap Share then “Add to Home Screen”

ECPR

Install the app

Install this application on your home screen for quick and easy access when you’re on the go.

Just tap Share then “Add to Home Screen”

Depoliticization and Politicization Processes in Rural Eco-Cohousing Movements

Green Politics
Political Participation
Social Movements
Political Sociology
Political Activism
Madeg Leblay
Sciences Po Rennes
Madeg Leblay
Sciences Po Rennes

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss partial results of an on-going doctoral research on rural eco-cohousing movements in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. For two decades, the number of projects labelled as “ecovillage” or “eco-community” has been rising. Their forms can vary, from official planning initiatives to illegal collective occupations via self-built housing. But they basically refer to the same idea: a group of individuals decides to move in a rural area, aiming at high ecological standards of living. We assume that these places can be regarded as spaces of contention and the inhabitants as political activists. Then a question is: why choose ecological housing as a mode of political participation? Thanks to participant observation and semi-structured interviews in six French and Spanish eco-cohousing project, we collected information on the biographical trajectories of the residents and their discursive arguments. First, we observe that some inhabitants, often the founding members, come from traditional collective organizations. They are experienced activists. They usually explain their trajectory as a path from theoretical to practical activism. They emphasize the need to give an example and to “prefigure” an alternative future society, rather than to struggle against and with the existent society. So this trajectory can be understood as a way of politicization of housing and everyday life, but also as an exit strategy from usual repertoires of contention. Indeed, the most experienced inhabitants are often aged individuals, who “retreat” from their activist career. Then, we also remark that many residents have no experience in any social movement or political organization. In this case, the eco-housing project may act as a politicization catalyst. Such projects are always long-term projects (up to a decade), which require from the participants significant material and emotional investment. This personal commitment may include or evolve towards a political commitment (abilities to face disagreement and opposition, to build a general discourse, to take a stance on public problems). Then the housing project becomes part of a broader action, which will include for example the participation to local organizations dedicated to organic farming, ecological construction, alternative systems of exchange. Finally, we note a partial formalization and structuring process of eco-cohousing movements. This occurs at local, national and international levels. In order to promote the idea of “routine politics” in the everyday life, what could be mere isolated projects tends to coordinate more and more. Some dedicated organizations develop, and then come back to the more common activist techniques: publications, education, lobbying and consulting in the decision-making arenas. Once again, this evolution can appear as a politicization process, aiming at the recognition of ecological housing as a relevant public policy; but also as a depoliticization process, considering that it often means softening and avoiding the most conflictual discourses.