Degrowth and (un)sustainable lifestyles in two Danish ecovillages

Based on an extensive qualitative study, this paper explores sustainability in two Danish ecovillages and discusses the findings (meta)theoretically. Linked to the degrowth literature, it takes its point of departure in critical realism by identifying mechanisms related to (un)sustainability in these ecovillages. The most important mechanism generating their sustainable practices is identified as a subsistence political economy, a mechanism rooted in infrastructures such as regenerative farming and direct democracy. However, there is another important mechanism affecting the sustainability of the ecovillages, namely middle-class ideals. This mechanism generates unsustainable, growth-oriented lifestyles, which are also rooted in infrastructures such as large family houses and divisions between the private and the communal. Generally, it is concluded that in these two ecovillages the subsistence political economy mechanism ensures a move towards more sustainable lifestyles for all villagers, while infrastructure sustaining middle-class ideals pulls in the opposite direction.