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What was the political uptake on EU-level regarding “Degrowth” following the Beyond Growth Conference from 2023?
Fleischmann, Clemens Michael (2025) What was the political uptake on EU-level regarding “Degrowth” following the Beyond Growth Conference from 2023?
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| Abstract: | This bachelor thesis investigates the political uptake of “Degrowth” and general post-growth ideas at the political level of the European Union, following the Beyond Growth Conference held in May 2023. In the face of escalating climate and ecological crises, “Degrowth” has emerged as a critical alternative to traditional growth-oriented sustainability strategies. The central research question guiding this work is: "What was the political uptake on EU-level regarding “Degrowth” following the Beyond Growth Conference 2023?". To analyze how “Degrowth”-related ideas have been integrated, resisted, or framed in EU-level policymaking, this study draws on two complementary theoretical frameworks: The agenda setting theory (Kingdon, 1995) and the framing theory (Entman, 1993). The empirical basis for the analysis consists of ten official documents by different EU bodies. A qualitative critical discourse analysis (CDA) was conducted using atlas.ti, with a coding scheme operationalizing both theories. The study seeks to identify both the extent of “Degrowth” uptake and the dominant policy and rhetorical frames in recent EU sustainability discourse. Ultimately, this research contributes to understanding to what extent transformative economic ideas like “Degrowth” gain traction in high-level political institutions and informs ongoing discussions about the future of sustainable policymaking in Europe. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 89 political science |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107807 |
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