‘The Focus Has to be on Helping People Make a Living’: Exploring Diverse Economies and Alternative Economic Spaces

Fickey, Amanda

doi:10.1111/j.1749-8198.2011.00418.x

Cited by 52 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The diverse economies approach has boosted the broadening of the analysis of alternative economic practices (Jonas, 2013a) and inspired a large number of case studies in different types of alternative spaces and different places, which led Gibson-Graham (2008a) to announce the birth of the diverse economies research community in economic geography. At the same time, it has also provoked a debate that has proven fruitful in some cases (Fickey, 2011), such as the discussion concerning the notion of alterity (Fuller et al, 2010). Researchers working on the notion of alterity usually start from a different theoretical and epistemological background from that of Gibson-Graham (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse economies and alternative spaces: An overview of approaches and practices

Gritzas

Kavoulakos

2016

European Urban and Regional Studies

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although the origins of the theoretical debate regarding political–economic alternatives are as old as Proudhon, Marx and Engels, discussion concerning alternative economic and political spaces has come to the foreground very recently. More specifically, in the field of geography the most influential approach has been that associated with work on diverse economies, developed initially by Gibson-Graham. Research in this area has increased at a significant rate, revealing a multitude of practices in what we call the hidden ‘neverland’ all over the world, while simultaneously posing a number of new and open questions. This article begins with a review of the main theoretical, methodological and epistemological assumptions underpinning the diverse economies approach. This is followed by a discussion of four concrete types of diverse/alternative spaces; those in post-socialist countries, alternative exchange networks, alternative food networks and the Mondragon cooperative corporation in Spain. The article concludes by arguing that while the debate on alternative and diverse economies may reflect a willingness on the part of the scholars to cooperate in order to build a postcapitalist future, it is also necessary to consider the possibilities and constraints operating at different scales, from individual to global, in order to consider the extent to which alternatives may be successful.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse economies and alternative spaces: An overview of approaches and practices

Gritzas

Kavoulakos

2016

European Urban and Regional Studies

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Material practices matter and visions that do not inspire change are signs that alternatives are wanted, but not enough in themselves. Consequently, North (), Jonas () and Fickey () argue that we need to move beyond the identification of possibilities and hopeful visions to develop our understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of actually existing alternative practices. Consequently, Gibson‐Graham, Cameron and Healy's latest book, Take Back the Economy (), discusses concrete ways of reclaiming work, property, markets and finance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ten Square Miles Surrounded By Reality? Materialising Alternative Economies Using Local Currencies

North

2013

Antipode

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article examines the success of paper-based alternative currencies in facilitating convivial, sustainable localised economies. Based on fieldwork in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, it discusses the capacity of activists to create alternative forms of currency that communicate the organisers' visions of a localised economy, before examining material practices: for whom do the currencies work, and who struggles to use them? Using insights from a diverse economies perspective, the article argues that we cannot read off the likelihood of an economic actor using the currency from the extent of their local economic embeddedness: economic actors in similar positions respond to the same stimuli in different ways, and local business owners and activists can form productive alliances to develop their shared project. The article concludes by arguing that local currencies should be used more proactively to stimulate new forms of concrete local production to meet locally identified needs.Resumen: Este artículo examina el éxito de las monedas alternativas de papel en facilitar economías localizadas conviviales y sostenibles. Basado en trabajos de campo en los Estados Unidos, el Reino Unido y Alemania, se analiza la capacidad de los activistas para crear formas alternativas de moneda que comuniquen las visiones de una economía localizada de los organizadores, antes de examinar las prácticas materiales: ¿para quién funcionan las monedas y para quién supone dificultades? Usando percepciones desde una perspectiva de "economías diversas", el artículo argumenta que no se puede deducir la probabilidad de que un actor económico utilice la moneda en base a su grado de arraigo en la economía local: los actores económicos en posiciones similares responden a los mismos estímulos de diferentes maneras, y empresarios y activistas locales pueden formar alianzas productivas para desarrollar su proyecto compartido. El artículo concluye argumentando que las monedas locales deben utilizarse de manera más proactiva para estimular nuevas formas de producción local concreta para satisfacer las necesidades identificadas a nivel local.

show abstract

“…One of the aims of this literature is to reveal the diversity of economic institutions and enterprises operating around local and regional economies (Leyshon 2005; GibsonGraham 2011). It is encouraged by the presence and potential of alternatives to mainstream capitalist institutions and economic practices (CEC 2001;Lee and Leyshon 2003;Fuller et al 2010b;Fickey 2011). Even as places and regions are becoming ever more drawn into global networks and circuits of capital, there is a great deal of geographical variation in terms of how people and communities engage with, experience, and reproduce economic transactions on a daily basis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative Economies and Spaces : New Perspectives for a Sustainable Economy

Zademach¹,

Hillebrand²

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.Cover concept: Kordula Röckenhaus, Bielefeld Cover illustration: Alexandra Kaiser, Eichstätt, 2011 Printed by Majuskel Medienproduktion GmbH, Wetzlar ISBN 978-3-8376-2498-4 Content AcknowledgementsThe volume in hand contains a collection of contributions that are concerned with alternative modes of economic and social exchange, among them alternative currency schemes, fair trade, and social enterprises. Earlier versions of these papers have been presented in the context of the study program 'Space -Society -Economy' at the Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt during the winter term 2011/12. This new program was established on the initiative of the Geography Department as a platform that aims to introduce, discuss and advance new concepts and debates at the intersections between geography, the social sciences and economics. For this purpose, each term addresses a specific topic in usually five public lectures of international guest speakers and additional work in an accompanying seminar.It is worth noting that this study program is fully financed by tuition fees of local students; thus, first of all, we wish to thank our students for making these events possible. In this vein, we also want to thank our student assistants Julia De Gregorio and Julian Rochlitz for their excellent support in organising the series as well as valuable comments on earlier drafts of the introductory chapter. A special thanks is also due to Alexandra Kaiser for her assistance with the figures in this book and for designing the web page and further announcement materials for the study program that not least influenced the design of the cover of the book. Our team assistant Theresia | ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIES AND SPACESNeubauer deserves special appreciation for her great care and patience in processing all administrative tasks.Our utmost gratitude goes, of course, to the distinguished colleagues that accepted our invitation to present and discuss selected parts of their contemporary work in course of the series; they were not deterred by the efforts to travel to wintery snowy Eichstätt, in some cases (such as in the case of Roger Lee who did the whole trip from London by train) indeed a weary journey. By dint of their insightful reflections and rich illustrations of how alternatives are performed at various scales and spaces, they offered all participants in the program, students and colleagues, a great opportunity to delve deeper into the highly relevant, challenging and exciting project to interrogate and practice alternatives in relation to and beyond economic mainstream. We hope that this volume contributes to carrying this project a little further. Hans-Martin Zademach and Sebastian Hillebrand Eichstätt, March 201...

show abstract

‘The Focus Has to be on Helping People Make a Living’: Exploring Diverse Economies and Alternative Economic Spaces

Cited by 52 publications

References 40 publications

Diverse economies and alternative spaces: An overview of approaches and practices

Diverse economies and alternative spaces: An overview of approaches and practices

Ten Square Miles Surrounded By Reality? Materialising Alternative Economies Using Local Currencies

Alternative Economies and Spaces : New Perspectives for a Sustainable Economy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About