From Postmaterialism to Sustainable Materialism

Abstract

We begin the analysis with a discussion of why movement actors shift from more classic political action and policy development into the development of sustainable materialist practices. There is a clear frustration and disillusionment with both contemporary material life on the one hand, and liberal pluralism and capital on the other. The postmaterialist approach to environmental movements is inadequate in a number of ways, as the movements we explore illustrate a clear frustration and disillusionment with both contemporary material life on the one hand, and liberal pluralism and capital on the other. We introduce and discuss a range of other approaches to material action, including lifestyle politics, political consumerism, sustainable consumption, and postcapitalist frameworks, but also lay out their limitations in fully encompassing and explaining sustainable materialist movements.