(Re)imagining Entangled Sustainability: A Human and Nonhuman Theorisation of Belonging to Safeguard Sustainability’s Holism

Alicja R. Sadownik and Josephine Gabi
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Alicja R. Sadownik: Department of Pedagogy, Religion and Social Studies, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5063 Bergen, Norway
Josephine Gabi: Education and Social Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6GX, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: After years of research and theorisation connected to education for sustainable development, the holistic core of sustainability seems to have disappeared within the frames of the social, environmental and economic pillars. This article suggests a post-humanism inspired understanding of a sense of belonging. Even though the phenomenon of belonging is ascribed to social sustainability, the post-human theoretical toolkit challenges the humanism-based understanding of a sense of belonging as a human-related phenomenon. Using Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizome and affect concepts and Barad’s concept of intra-action, we show the connections between the human and nonhuman elements constituting each other in our world. We conclude with the implications that using post-human language (to understand belonging) may have for policy, Early Childhood Education and care (ECEC) practice and theory.

Keywords: sustainability’s pillars; sense of belonging; early childhood education; intra-action; human–nonhuman (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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