Sowing Seeds of Change: Transforming Society Towards Sustainability through the Practice of Sustainable Agriculture Affecting Subjectivity

Abstract

Capitalism is a socioeconomic system that is incompatible with a just, equitable, or sustainable society. Current proposals for transitions to sustainability are dominated by technical, corporate, or governance solutions that do not challenge the underlying mechanisms of capitalism. Increasing evidence indicates that problems of sustainability are primarily issues of social and political will, rather than technical or material capacity. This research investigated the potential for changes to subjectivity to contribute towards social transitions for sustainability. The means investigated was the theory of praxis, a theory from historical anarchist tradition of both subjectivation and social change. Marx’s theory of alienation was used to bound analysis of the specific forms of subjective change, while the theory of the unity of ends and means was used to examine the congruity of subjective changes with potential social outcomes.

The persistence of any social system is dependent on its continual reproduction, which must be undertaken by subjects living in that system. The theory of praxis states that by engaging in particular forms of practice, people gain capacities, values, and drives, which are then deployed to produce and reproduce society. Practices and subjectivity iteratively interact with each other to reinforce, redirect, enrich, or contradict social understandings to dynamically re-shape society. Social transition is therefore possible through intervention in this process of reproduction, through engaging in practices that allow for the development of capacities and values to support new social relations, and the drive to do so.

The particular case study examined for its potential to develop these capacities, values, and drives was sustainable agriculture. Sustainability-oriented farmers exist in close relationship with nature, act to provide a socially necessary service, and have a history of self-determination. These qualities, combined with literature documenting the potential for food systems to act as powerful levers for social change, supported the hypothesis that participation in sustainable farming practices could act to develop some of the subjective qualities necessary to support the transition to a more sustainable society.

To investigate this potential, I conducted semi-structured interviews with farmers who self-identified as performing sustainable agriculture. Interviews had two components: an in-depth interview to discuss the participant’s farming practices and history, and views on society, politics, religion, and visions for an ideal society and means they proposed to achieve it; and a go-along interview, where participants demonstrated their practices and discussed how they had been affected by them.

Results of the interviews were analyzed through the development of a modified version of Marx’s theory of alienation. Based on participant discussion, three key areas of alienation were identified: from nature, from community, and from the self. Existing literature on these forms of alienation was analyzed, in conjunction with how participants described feelings of alienation, and their feelings of de-alienation in these areas from practicing sustainable farming. Similarly, visions of ideal societies were aggregated for commonalities and differences, and analysis of the means participants presented to achieve those visions was done to examine whether those means were congruent with the ends they seek and the values, capacities, and drives developed through their practices.

Sustainable farming affected participants to greater connection with nature through valuing nature as sacred, and increased appreciation for the materiality and seasonality of nature. Participants reported both feelings of alienation and de-alienation for community from sustainable agriculture. Feelings of alienation included from social group perceptions, isolation from economic and labour conditions, and differences in values and goals from both conventional farmers and non-farmers. Feelings of de-alienation were experienced through sharing food as a socially necessary good, and sharing farming experiences and the values associated with those experiences. De-alienation from the self was reported from sustainable agriculture allowing for experimentation, the development of diverse skill sets, and allowing for self-determination.

Participants’ visions of ideal societies included social sufficiency through the provisioning of basic needs for all members of society, the integration of nature with society, greater community connection, and an emphasis on local decision-making and governance. The means with which participants sought to achieve their visions of ideal societies were growing individual and communal capacities, fostering more communal connection, and socioeconomic policy change.

This research demonstrates support for one means of contributing towards social change for sustainability that exists outside of policy, corporate, or technological solutions. The results support the initial hypothesis that participation in sustainable agriculture can influence drives, capacities, and values for sustainability. These qualities for sustainability were also congruent with social visions of sustainability, supporting the unity of means and ends. Together these findings indicate that positive social change for sustainability can be developed at the level of everyday practices.