1 1 Avelino, Kunze: transition potential of ecovillage movement Exploring the Transition Potential of the Ecovillage Movement By Flor Avelino & Iris Kunze * Paper presented at the European Conference on Sustainability Transitions: Dynamics & Governance of Transitions to Sustainability, 4th and 5th June 2009, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Abstract This paper explores the following question: what is the transition potential of the ecovillage movement? After arguing the relevance of this question, literature in transition studies is discussed in order to specify three research questions on the ‘transition potential’ of ecovillages. Second, the ecovillage movement is described with reference to literature on intentional communities and social movements. Third, the ‘transition potential’ of the ecovillage movement is explored by answering the following three questions: 1) how can the ecovillage movement be characterized in transition terms, 2) how does the ecovillages movement empower actors and what kind of power do these actors exercise and 3) how and to what extent is the ecovillage movement ‘mainstreamed’? For each of these questions, a set of research hypotheses are formulated. In the conclusion, these hypotheses are further discussed, and challenges for future research are distilled. This is an explorative paper; rather than testing or (dis)proving predefined hypotheses, the aim is to explore the synergy between an empirical phenomenon (ecovillages) and a theoretical perspective (transition theory) and on that basis distil hypotheses and challenges for future research. Keywords: ecovillage movement, intentional communities, transition studies, niches and regimes For millennia, people have lived in communities close to nature, and with supportive social structures(…) Ecovillages are now being created intentionally, so people can once more live in communities that are connected to the Earth in a way that ensures the well-being of all life-forms into the indefinite future. (Website Global Ecovillage Network) I. Introduction: The Relevance of the Ecovillage Movement for Transition Studies This paper explores the transition potential of the ecovillage movement, i.e. the thousands of ecovillages across the world and their possible contribution to sustainability transitions. The ecovillage movement emerged in the 1980s/90s in response to ecological and social challenges in modern societies. The approach of ecovillages starts holistically in daily life and extends to all areas of consumption, economic activity, infrastructural planning, organization and governance. Studies on ecovillages measured their ecological footprint as only 28- 42 % of the German average (Simon et al., 2003) and 21,5- 37% of the UK average (Dawson, 2006). While significantly reducing energy consumption, examined ecovillages prove increased life quality conditions in terms of security, choice of lifestyle, co-existence with others, working freedom and combining work and family live (Karl-Heinz Simon et al., 2003; Kunze, 2006). Ecovillages achieve this not only by * Contact details: Flor Avelino, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dutch Research Institute for Transitions, Rotterdam, the Netherlands [email: avelino@fsw.eur.nl]. Iris Kunze: Dr. Iris Kunze, Project Community Research, Department of Sociology, University of Muenster Germany, BOKU university, Vienna [e-mail: infor@iriskunze.com homepage: http://www.community-research.eu ]