Democracy in grassroots initiatives

To what extent is democracy considered as a value in different forms of grassroots initiatives? How is it understood, practiced, and organized, and does it support or hinders sustainability transformations? 

Democratic processes, which require deliberation and participation, are often perceived as conflicting with the need for rapid and fundamental sustainability transformations. This perception calls for new visions of democracy that can stimulate pathways to sustainability while enhancing inclusion and empowerment. A diversity of grassroots initiatives is already experimenting with alternative ways of thinking and practicing democracy. These range from transition towns and ecovillages, and alternative food initiatives to social movements, urban squats and protest camps.

This project combines an in-depth investigation of Freetown Christiania with a larger comparative study. Freetown Christiania is a unique case as Europe’s oldest and largest squatted settlement and autonomous community within the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Decisions are taken by consensus in monthly community meetings. Previously described as an ‘unintentional ecovillage’ it could provide valuable insights into how its democratic practices affect sustainability. This anarchist experiment has persisted for 50 years despite continuous threats of land dispossession and internal challenges. Understanding enabling and hindering conditions could generate learning for other grassroots initiatives.

The research team, led by dr. Julia Tschersich, will host a workshop at Utrecht University with scholars and representatives of different types of grassroots initiatives to compare and contrast experiences of democratic practices in different grassroots experiments in the Netherlands and across Europe, considering approaches of ecological democracy, radical democracy, sustainability transition studies, and eco-anarchism.