Convivial innovation in sustainable communities: Four cases in France

摘要

The current globalized, competitive economic system has resulted in a focus on innovation policies, with some approaches considering sustainable communities, such as eco-villages as social innovation laboratories. This perspective considers innovation as an end and primarily focuses on strategies to achieve it. However, the establishment of sustainable communities is neither market-driven nor innovation-focused; instead, it is motivated by a desire for a simpler life. Thus, a different conceptual framework must be developed to study innovation in these settings. This study therefore elaborates on Illich's concept of "tools for conviviality" and Vetter's concept of "convivial technologies" to highlight the "convivial innovation" process in four communities in southeastern France. In these communities, convivial innovation refers to adaptable, accessible, and locally available innovation. The inhabitants of these communities view convivial innovation as a means, not an end, and their needs drive the development of new tools for conviviality. Convivial innovation can be envisioned as degrowth-oriented innovation.