The Wastefulness of the Environmental Movement - An Investigation into Sustainable Activism
(2018) HEKM51 20181Human Ecology
- Abstract
- This thesis examines how the Climate Justice Movement in Germany is set up today and how
activists relate to and feel about their activism. Specifically, factors are investigated that make
people feel unhappy about their activism or even leave the movement. Furthermore, potential
changes of the movement in order to become a healthier and more sustainable environment
for activists are suggested.
Participatory Action Research was conducted and data was collected through unstructured
interviews, autobiographic reflection and informal conversations. This study finds that the
Climate Justice Movement has indeed inherited violent and destructive dynamics of the
surrounding world system. Capitalist pressures of efficiency, competition and... (More) - This thesis examines how the Climate Justice Movement in Germany is set up today and how
activists relate to and feel about their activism. Specifically, factors are investigated that make
people feel unhappy about their activism or even leave the movement. Furthermore, potential
changes of the movement in order to become a healthier and more sustainable environment
for activists are suggested.
Participatory Action Research was conducted and data was collected through unstructured
interviews, autobiographic reflection and informal conversations. This study finds that the
Climate Justice Movement has indeed inherited violent and destructive dynamics of the
surrounding world system. Capitalist pressures of efficiency, competition and productivism
just like patriarchal oppression are visible. An exploitative culture of activism that creates an
adverse social metabolism and consequent rift of activists within a supposedly anti-capitalist
and pro-sustainability movement is a consequence.
Various starting points for a restructuring process have been identified. A first important step
is the fundamental recognition of the embeddedness of the movement in the current system
and the resulting pressures and traumata that activists experience as a consequence.
Furthermore, internal dynamics and working cultures need to be scrutinized. Developing a
holistically authentic strategy that can make the CJM a healthier, more sustainable and
coherent place for current and future activists will play an essential role in the urgently
needed great transformation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8940824
- author
- Junge, Eva LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- HEKM51 20181
- year
- 2018
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Sustainable Activism, Climate Justice Movement, Ende Gelände, Sustainability, Scholar Activism, Participatory Action Research, Burn-Out, Overwork, Health, Capitalism
- language
- English
- id
- 8940824
- date added to LUP
- 2018-12-21 11:18:17
- date last changed
- 2018-12-21 11:18:17
@misc{8940824, abstract = {{This thesis examines how the Climate Justice Movement in Germany is set up today and how activists relate to and feel about their activism. Specifically, factors are investigated that make people feel unhappy about their activism or even leave the movement. Furthermore, potential changes of the movement in order to become a healthier and more sustainable environment for activists are suggested. Participatory Action Research was conducted and data was collected through unstructured interviews, autobiographic reflection and informal conversations. This study finds that the Climate Justice Movement has indeed inherited violent and destructive dynamics of the surrounding world system. Capitalist pressures of efficiency, competition and productivism just like patriarchal oppression are visible. An exploitative culture of activism that creates an adverse social metabolism and consequent rift of activists within a supposedly anti-capitalist and pro-sustainability movement is a consequence. Various starting points for a restructuring process have been identified. A first important step is the fundamental recognition of the embeddedness of the movement in the current system and the resulting pressures and traumata that activists experience as a consequence. Furthermore, internal dynamics and working cultures need to be scrutinized. Developing a holistically authentic strategy that can make the CJM a healthier, more sustainable and coherent place for current and future activists will play an essential role in the urgently needed great transformation.}}, author = {{Junge, Eva}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{The Wastefulness of the Environmental Movement - An Investigation into Sustainable Activism}}, year = {{2018}}, }