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Paper short abstract:

From Gotland and Texel, we study the role of water in future visions by seeking care perspectives to counter the dominant control narrative. Through 'watershops', we aim to pinpoint tensions and collectively shape alternative, transformative futures through distinct writing practices such as poetry.

Paper long abstract:

The post-fossil era is not distant, but an immediate and imminent transformation with present-day consequences. In numerous societies, inadequate preparation for the challenges associated with the post-fossil transition, such as rising sea levels and intensified weather conditions, is evident. The focus often revolves around problem-solving for the challenges posed by the rising sea levels and other water-related issues, rather than critically examining how we can produce "better knowledge" (Turnhout, 2022) and redefine our relationship with water. Drawing on case studies from Gotland, Sweden, and Texel, Netherlands, we explore how water plays a constitutive role in shaping our visions of the future.

The starting point for this exploration is the recognition that our perceptions of what constitutes water are influenced by practices of knowing, constructing possibilities. We explore how distinct perspectives on water produce conditions for a plurality of futures by drawing upon 'multiple ontologies' (Mol, 1999). As a result, we seek to counterbalance the dominant imaginations of control with emerging imaginations of care (Scoones, 2023; Stirling, 2014).

Through 'watershops,' situated in and around water, we explore current relationships with water and identify tensions. Engaging residents, businesses, activists, and artists, we collectively craft new narratives envisioning alternative futures. This process, incorporating writing differently—particularly through poetry (e.g., Helin, 2021; Valtonen & Pullen, 2020; Watts, 2018)—aims to foster a transformative understanding of our relationship with water and the possibilities it holds for post-fossil futures.