Postgrowth and Degrowth in and beyond the Italian debate.

INTRODUCTION

Degrowth and Postgrowth debates are thriving internationally, especially at the European level. In a present of unprecedented ecological, economic, social, and political crises, Degrowth and Postgrowth provide analytical perspectives to understand this conjuncture and practical proposals for liveable futures based on equity, sustainability, democracy, inclusion, social and ecological justice. These approaches, which are highly interdisciplinary, hold together ecological economic and policy analyses, critical perspectives on technological innovation, urban studies, anthropological understandings and sociological insights. Italy was one of the first countries where degrowth ideas became popular in the first decade of the 2000s and took hold in political movements and agendas – with the second International Conference of Degrowth hosted in Venice in 2012. Yet, this popularity has not been matched by a significant rootedness in academia, with highly recognised Italian scholars finding their space only abroad. Today, interest in research on degrowth and postgrowth is nevertheless finding new momentum, especially among young researchers. We believe this to be an opportune moment for convening a moment of collective reflection to strengthen the Italian research network in degrowth and postgrowth studies. The objectives of the conference include a recognition of the state of the art of contemporary debates, research opportunities, and future directions. To this end, we aim to launch the Italian Degrowth and Post-Growth Research Network, providing a space for coordination, collaboration, and future initiatives among scholars working in the field.

The conference is hosted by the Environment Research Cluster at the School of International Studies and will be held in both Italian and English

SUBMIT YOUR CONTRIBUTION

Submissions should include:

• Title of the proposed paper
• Abstract of approximately 300–500 words
• Author name(s) and affiliation(s)
• Contact details
• 3–5 keywords

Submissions may be sent in both English and Italian and should be sent via email at: alice.dalgobbo@unitn.it, indicating in the subject field: “Italian degrowth conference 2026 Trento”

The deadline for submission is 30th October 2026.

PROGRAM

Day 1

H 11 | Keynote Lecture

Giorgios Kallis - Current international research perspectives on degrowth

H 15 | Afternoon parallel sessions

Day 2

H 9 | Morning parallel sessions

H 11 | Launch and meeting of the Italian Degrowth Research Network

H 15 | Roundtable

Simone D’Alessandro, Emanuele Leonardi, Barbara Pizzo, Federico Savini - Doing research on Degrowth in Italy

CONFERENCE FEE

We ask for a little fee to support the conference. 

This will amount to:

- 30 euro for PhDs, ECRs, independent/unfunded researchers

- 50 euro for professors and permanent academic staff

If you are not able to cover the conference fees, please contact us at: alice.dalgobbo@unitn.it

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Alice dal Gobbo, Michel Cardito, Karl Krähmer, Maria Zinutti, Donatella Gasparro