Towards a Politics of Recognition: Exploring the Symbolic Contexts of Material Agroecological Transitions

Daniel López-García (), Gabriela Vázquez-Macías, Javier García-Fernández, Maggie Schmitt, Paula Ortega-Faura and Josep Lluís Espluga-Trenc
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Daniel López-García: Institute of Economy, Geography and Demography, Spanish National Research Council, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Gabriela Vázquez-Macías: Fundación Entretantos, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Javier García-Fernández: Fundación Entretantos, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Maggie Schmitt: Fundación Entretantos, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Paula Ortega-Faura: Fundación Entretantos, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
Josep Lluís Espluga-Trenc: Institute for Goverment and Public Policy (IGOP), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Plaça Cívica, 08193 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: Scientific debates on agroecology highlight the relevance of appropriate narratives as a means to widen and amplify agroecological transitions in the material world. However, it is actually far-right discourses—often linked to populist political proposals—which, though not majoritarian, are reaching broad and growing diffusion among both rural communities and farmers. Research focusing on the symbolic mechanisms around food systems’ transitions are scarce. In order to address this gap, an exploratory research project was developed to identify responses to different messages and audiovisual languages favorable to agroecological transitions, through the dissemination of three brief audiovisual pieces among specific socio-professional profiles linked to food systems, together with an online survey. The results obtained (n = 524) show significant differences in the responses to open questions collected, regarding socio-economic diversity expressed in the axes male/female, urban/rural, farmer/not farmer and organic/conventional farming. Responses from conventional farmers express a need for developing a “politics of recognition” and repair that would acknowledge the unfair, subordinated role that farmers and rural communities feel in the current globalized food system. The paper shows the need for further empirical research on the issue, covering different territories and socio-economic and cultural profiles, in order to fully understand the symbolic mechanisms underlying material, agroecological transitions.

Keywords: agroecology; populism; experimental communication; sustainable food systems; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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