Beyond growth: new alliances for socio-ecological transformation in Austria |
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Authors: | Michael Soder Kathrin Niedermoser Hendrik Theine |
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Affiliation: | 1. Instiute for Ecological Economcis, WU – Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austriamichael.soder@wu.ac.at;3. Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria;4. Institute for Institutional and Heterodox Economics, WU – Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTTrade unions and environmental movements are often seen as political opponents most prominently discussed in the form of the ‘jobs vs. environment dilemma’. Based on historical examples of the conflict relations between trade unions and environmental groups in the Austrian energy sector, this paper showcases how the relationship between the two groups has changed from enmity to first attempts at alliance building. Drawing from analysis of union documents and problem-centred interviews conducted with Austrian unionists, it shows that newly emerging alliances between unions and environmental movements contain the seeds for a broad societal movement that can help overcome the paradigm of growth and actively engage in the creation of policies that support a social–ecological transformation. |
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Keywords: | Trade unions environment environmental movements energy sector economic growth job vs. environment Austria socio-ecological transformation |
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