The Post-Growth Transformation of European Cities – The Example of Hamburg

In our project, we intend to compare civil society sustainability initiatives in Hamburg to other European cities, which are aimed at a socio-ecological transformation focusing on the transition into a post-growth society. Due to the ongoing climate crisis, it is necessary to think about alternative ways of living beyond the growth society. Therefore, we will analyze how the Hamburg Metropolitan Region might change towards a post growth economy.

Our research topic is degrowth as a socio-economic approach which is described as a process of political and social transformation in relevant literature. This approach aims at the reduction of the use of resources and energy in a society as well as an improvement of the quality of life at the same time (Kallis et al. 2019). For our research work, we will develop a definition of our own of degrowth by means of self-established degrowth characteristics and explanations of degrowth described in relevant literature.

We will transform degrowth research into practice Forschung by using qualitative methods of social science. Our definition of degrowth will be used as interpretation frame for the analysis of citizen’s initiatives which show typical characteristics of degrowth. These initiatives will be arranged systematically in order to get an overview of the development of degrowth in Hamburg in comparision to other European cities.

Kallis, G., Kostakis, V., Lange, S., Muraca, B., Paulson, S., und Schmelzer, M. (2018). Research on Degrowth. Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 43, 291–316

Student research group

• Aitana Mollyk
• Armin Kargar

Mentor

• Prof. Dr. Frank Adloff