Anticipatory practices between real utopias and neoliberal governance

In this article, we argue that micro bakeries can ideally be understood as real utopias that erode the dominant role of capitalism in food systems. To set the scene, we introduce sociologist Erik Olin Wright’s original conception of real utopias as well as the critique that has been leveled against it. Secondly, we discuss how the concept of real utopias relate to the notion of anticipatory practices in future studies. Thirdly, we move beyond the conceptual discussions by presenting an empirical study of three micro bakeries, which unpack three different variations of real utopias. Our findings suggest that while micro bakeries as real utopias may erode capitalism, capitalist and neoliberal forces are still exerted upon them in hybrid, and impure ways. To grasp the deep complexities of real utopias it is therefore pivotal, we conclude, that they are analyzed empirically at a micro scale at the intersections between anticipatory practices, neoliberal governance and societal systems. • The concept of real utopia is developed for the empirical study of anticipatory practices • Real utopias refer anticipatory practices that challenge capitalist systems • Real utopias depend on their location-specific contexts and neoliberal governance • Variants of real utopias are uncovered in a case study of micro-sourdough bakeries