Convivial Futures

1. Why did you choose this topic?

We currently live in a world of many crises: war, huge social inequalities, climate change, rise of illiberal regimes, mass extinction of species etc. Criticizing these processes is not enough. We need a sketch of how a more convivial future may look like. Thus, it is urgent to show what people would gain from a shift to a post-neoliberal and post-growth future. It would be a world in which, at least in the richest countries, living better means less material wealth, with less money for the wealthy or upper middle classes, and which stops exploiting humans and non-human beings.

2. What new perspectives does your book offer?

The volume »Convivial Futures« brings together contributions that address the above mentioned questions and attempt to create sketches of a convivial future. The primary objective is to collect accounts of another future world, which is attractive for many different people.

3. What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?

Many social movements and researchers think about an alternative to current developments. Concrete utopias are needed more than ever. The book wants to enter into a dialogue with all those who are interested in a different future and who are engaged in the elaboration and implementation of concrete utopias – practically as well as intellectually.

4. Choose one person you would like to discuss your book with!

With a realistic political insider: Angela Merkel, for example. Now that she is without political responsibility, I would like to discuss with her what should actually be changed politically, socially, ecologically and economically and where she sees potential for change but also resistance to it.

5. Your book summary in one sentence:

»Convivial Futures« addresses the question what steps are needed to make life better and more convivial and consequently tries to show what people would gain from a shift to a convivialist future.