Presentation short abstract

Putting degrowth into conversation with delinking and ecofeminism, we articulate a framework for examining how North–South relations can be transformed from destructive dependencies towards care-based interdependencies. This framework is then drawn on to analyse specific cases of plastics and gold.

Presentation long abstract

Research on degrowth has burgeoned in the last fifteen years but one of the greatest challenges is

its relevance for and potential to build fruitful alliances with the Global South. Articulations of

degrowth as an alternative are often associated with nourishing autonomous grassroots initiatives,

relocalising economies, as well as transforming institutions and policies in the Global North.

However, this would not in itself bring the much-needed fundamental change of North–South

power relations and risks reproducing destructive dependencies in the global economy. Engaging

with this tension, this article addresses the following question: how to foster a transformation of

relations between the Global North and the Global South from destructive dependencies towards

care-based interdependencies? Bringing degrowth into conversation with delinking and

ecofeminism, we conceptualise the notion of caring interdependencies. This informs our analytical

framework for thinking about how to delink destructive dependencies and build caring

interdependencies for particular sectors or commodities. This framework is drawn on to analyse

concrete cases of plastics and gold, identifying directions for fostering caring interdependencies.

Overall, the article contributes to thinking about North-South relations in degrowth research, one

that can go beyond symbolic alliances and point out spaces for meaningful action for North-based

actors.