The European Green Deal and Prospects for Degrowth Transformations in the European Union: A Critical Discourse Analysis Approach

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2023-11-14

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en

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Aiming to foster a net-zero economy in the European Union by 2050 as well as several other transitions pertaining to food production, waste management, and biodiversity protection, the European Green Deal (EGD) claimed to be Europe’s “man on the moon” moment that can lead by example. In a critical phase for planetary stability due to human activity, the thesis seeks to examine whether the EGD incorporates a substance that would suffice to respond to the challenges human and other-than-human beings encounter. The yardstick that determines whether or not the EGD is indeed sufficient consists of two concepts: degrowth and transformative governance. It is argued that these two concepts combined, create an overarching conceptual framework capable of bringing about degrowth transformative changes. This framework is then juxtaposed to the EGD policy text by means of critical discourse analysis, to examine whether and the degree to which the EGD holds elements that encourage a degrowth transformative change. The thesis concludes that the EGD is in itself an opportunity for promoting a value change which is required for the attainment of a transformative change. On the other hand, it fails to break from a globalization paradigm that serves economic growth.

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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen