Reflections on how a Community Economies approach 'shows up' in engagements with policymakers and other State actors
Abstract
In this exploratory session, three scholar practitioners will outline whether and how community economies/diverse economies framings could influence how we engage with State and other governance actors.
Joanne McNeill will use J.K. Gibson-Graham’s 2008 paper Diverse economies: performative practices for ‘other worlds’ to explore where we might create openings for different kinds of engagement with State and other governance actors. These ideas draw on a work-in-progress started at the Community Economies Writing Retreat, held in June.
Christina Jerne will discuss some of her ongoing reflections on her work on criminal/illicit forms of governance. She finds that there are some interesting (and yet to be theoretically unpacked and explored) parallels between Capitalocentrism and Statecentrism. Might a new agenda for diverse economies thinking be to engage more directly with Politics with a big P?
Katharine McKinnon will discuss the Community Economy Transition project underway in central Victoria, Australia. The project is tasked with generating a community-led vision and an economic development plan for a Shire-wide transition to a regenerative local economy. The work is being undertaken in partnership with local government. Katharine will reflect on how this collaboration is taking shape and the emerging opportunities and tensions involved in partnering with local government actors in work that is aiming for radical change.
Session participants will be asked to reflect on their current perspectives on engaging with State and other governance actors, and be invited into a facilitated discussion that draws on the three perspectives presented.
