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Short abstract:

This article explores Exnovation and Buen Vivir as alternative innovation pathways, questioning how critical social development perspectives influence innovation in the global South and North. Through a systematic literature review from 3 academic platforms, we analyse four dimensions (technological, environmental, economic, and social).

Long abstract:

With growing awareness of limits to growth, debates around sufficiency and degrowth rise to prominence. At the same time, we still witness a great divide between the global ‘north’ and the ‘south’ and innovation, or lack thereof, is oftentimes seen as vital determining factor. In this article we look at two alternative approaches to innovation that place equality and sustainability at centre stage. From a global north perspective, the concept of exnovation of unsustainable practices and technologies has been gaining prominence. Whereas a global south perspective, predominantly in South America, the concept of buen vivir calls for responsible and nature-inclusive approaches to innovation and development. This article presents a reflexive approach that analyses the two alternative pathways of innovation. This study is based on a qualitative review of recent research on these two concepts. We did identify the main characteristics of both concepts in relation to four dimensions within each concept a) Technological, b) Environmental, c) Economic, and d) Social). We contextualise this analysis within theoretical debates in the global North and South in order to better understand its development and historical context, with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of alternative concepts of innovation.

Keywords: exnovation, buen vivir, alternative pathways, innovation, sustainability, development, directionality