Politics of Sustainable Development 1. Introduction

Politics for Practitioners politics from the inside, ”sub-politics” politics from the inside, ”sub-politics” substantive orientation: ”cultural politics” substantive orientation: ”cultural politics” focus on participation and agency focus on participation and agency cognitive approach, emphasis on knowledge cognitive approach, emphasis on knowledge

Based on: Environmentalism and Knowledge, Environmentalism and Knowledge, Public Participation and Environmental Science and Technology Policy Options (PESTO), Public Participation and Environmental Science and Technology Policy Options (PESTO), The Transformation of Environmental Activism (TEA), The Transformation of Environmental Activism (TEA),

Change-Oriented Research Problem-driven, rather then disciplinary driven Problem-driven, rather then disciplinary driven Intervention in ongoing process Intervention in ongoing process Reflective ambition Reflective ambition Narrative form of presentation Narrative form of presentation Participatory, dialogue methods Participatory, dialogue methods Engagement, or involvement in what is studied Engagement, or involvement in what is studied

A Historical Perspective Long-term cyclical patterns Long-term cyclical patterns Mobilization of cultural traditions Mobilization of cultural traditions Trajectory of movement development Trajectory of movement development Focus on differences, contradictions Focus on differences, contradictions

A Cognitive Approach Focus on knowledge in the making Focus on knowledge in the making Action, or process orientation Action, or process orientation Comparative, or contextual ambition Comparative, or contextual ambition Dialectical method, identification of tensions Dialectical method, identification of tensions

Politics as Cognitive Praxis connecting ideas and action connecting ideas and action articulation of knowledge interests articulation of knowledge interests movements as temporary spatial sites movements as temporary spatial sites Importance of movement intellectuals Importance of movement intellectuals

What is Cognitive Praxis? situated knowledge making situated knowledge making linking ”theory” to ”practice” linking ”theory” to ”practice” hybrid forms of agency hybrid forms of agency exemplary learning exemplary learning

Dimensions of cognitive praxis Cosmology: world-view assumptions Cosmology: world-view assumptions Technology: practical competence Technology: practical competence Organization: situational context Organization: situational context

The Cognitive Praxis of Environmental Movements Cosmological dimension: Cosmological dimension: systemic holism, ”limits to growth” Technical dimension: Technical dimension: appropriateness, ”small is beautiful” Organizational dimension: Organizational dimension: collective learning sites, ”citizen science”

From Movements to Institutions 1970s1990s ecological society sustainable development AT, small-scalecleaner technologies citizen scientistsprofessional experts

Dialectics of Sustainable Development Green businessCritical ecology ”Ecological modernization””Environmental justice” Instrumental rationalityCommunicative rationality Environmental managementEnvironmental ethics Commercial orientationCommunity emphasis Expert solutionsPublic engagement