Eco-communities in Denmark - A possible model for transition to a sustainable society in the economic growth oriented reality

Trifonova, Magdalena Trifonova ; Pardi, Erik Peter

4. Term

Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning, Master

2017

2017-06-01

87

Der er voksende debat om de miljømæssige, sociale og økonomiske problemer, der knytter sig til Vestens markedsdrevne, profitfokuserede økonomiske model. Indtil nu har hverken staten eller markedet håndteret disse problemer tilfredsstillende. Akademiske kritikker findes, men uden en tydelig praktisk vej viser de ikke, hvordan vi konkret kan omstille os til bæredygtighed. Denne afhandling undersøger økosamfund i Danmark som en praktisk tilgang til et mere bæredygtigt samfund, hvor miljøbevidsthed, social velfærd, solidaritet og demokrati er grundlæggende. Med interviews og observationer spørger vi: Hvordan kan økosamfund trives, vokse og brede sig i Danmarks vækstorienterede økonomiske kontekst, og i hvilken grad udgør de en levedygtig model for omstillingen til et bæredygtigt samfund? Vores undersøgelse viser, at den danske tradition for fællesskab kan støtte økosamfunds udvikling, men at politiske, sociale, økonomiske og institutionelle særtræk skaber betydelige udfordringer for både deres bæredygtighedsmål og deres muligheder for at brede sig i landet.

There is growing debate about the environmental, social and economic problems linked to the West’s market-driven, profit-centered economic model. So far, neither the state nor the market has addressed these problems well. Academic critiques exist, but without a clear practical approach they do not show a concrete path toward sustainability. This thesis examines eco-communities in Denmark as a practical way to pursue a more sustainable society, where environmental awareness, social welfare, solidarity and democracy are fundamental values. Using interviews and observations, we ask: How can eco-communities thrive, grow and spread within Denmark’s growth-oriented economic context, and to what extent do they offer a viable model for a transition to a sustainable society? Our analysis finds that Denmark’s strong sense of community can support eco-communities, but political, social, economic and institutional factors create significant challenges to achieving their sustainability goals and to their wider adoption across the country.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Degrowth ; transition ; eco-community ; eco-village ; sustainability ; Denmark ; political ecology ; ecological economics ; institutional change

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