Episode #34 of “Becoming a post-growth planner: obstacles and challenges to changing roles and practices” with Dr Julia Grosinger (ICTA-UAB, Barcelona, Spain). In conversation with Dr Christian Lamker (University of Groningen, the Netherlands).
“Post-growth planning is not happening on the grid; it’s something which happens in the mindsets of people”. Discussing spatial, social, and emotional aspects of degrowth in rural areas throughout Europe. Understanding ‘the backbone of human survival’ and distinct narratives and experiences in rural areas and small municipalities. Identifying loved keystone places in participatory methods, walking interviews, and arts-based research. Highlighting the role of planned and unplanned spaces for meeting and fulfilling human needs for identity, leisure, and participation. Beyond romanticising degrowth to understanding values like care, conviviality, and solidarity, in rural contexts and connecting to existing social and physical infrastructures – “because we cannot go back the way we came from”.
You might want to read or listen into the following works that are related to this episode:
- Grosinger, J., Varvarousis, A., & Kallis, G. (2026). Loved keystone places: spatialising fundamental human needs for post-growth strategies in rural areas. Local Environment, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2026.2644492
- Gilbert, D., Gasparro, D., Kallis, G., Munoz-Sueiro, L., Grosinger, J., Tsagkari, M., Khan, F., Wright, G., & Varvarousis, A. (2026). Encountering degrowth. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, Article 25148486251414424. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486251414424
- Grosinger, J., Vallet, A., Palomo, I., Buclet, N., & Lavorel, S. (2021). Collective capabilities shape the co-production of nature’s contributions to people in the alpine agricultural system of the Maurienne valley, France. Regional Environmental Change, 21(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01840-9
Furthermore, the following works from other authors have been mentioned in this episode:
- Careri, F. (2017). Walkscapes: Walking as an aesthetic practice. Culicidae Architectural Press.
- Gregg, M., & Seigworth, G. J. (Eds.). (2020). The affect theory reader. Duke University Press.
- Reinoso, A. S., & Dax, T. (2024). Beyond growth paralysis: Spatial planning’s contribution to sensitive policies in Austrian shrinking mountain areas. DisP – the Planning Review, 60(3), 26–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/02513625.2024.2471167
This episode is also available on YouTube (channel: @postgrowthplan).