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“Just” ecopreneurs: re-conceptualising green transitions and entrepreneurship

Affolderbach, Julia; Krueger, Rob

Authors

Julia Affolderbach

Rob Krueger



Abstract

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Economic, environmental, and social limits of the current capitalist mode of production have led to a rethinking and reconceptualisation of economic processes and models including the role of businesses in sustainable development. While green economies and more specifically green entrepreneurs have been identified as agents of change that can challenge the mainstream and seek to induce environmental, social, and ethical transformation of society, much research has stayed within existing models of thinking predominantly rooted in technocratic approaches (e.g. ecological modernisation and more recently transition studies). This paper seeks to offer an alternative understanding of green entrepreneurship that breaks open these discussions using an environmental justice frame that focuses on the role of extra-economic discourses in shaping the social relations of economic systems. By drawing on an exemplary case study of “just” entrepreneurship from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the paper seeks to start a conversation around the ideas of green entrepreneurship and environmental justice as vehicles to deliver potentially broader system changes and explores both conceptual and practical aspects of green development. As such, it offers (1) evidence of a just green economy that can be realised within existing capitalist structures as well as (2) a different conceptual entry point to understanding green entrepreneurship.

Citation

Affolderbach, J., & Krueger, R. (2017). “Just” ecopreneurs: re-conceptualising green transitions and entrepreneurship. Local environment, 22(4), 410-423. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2016.1210591

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 4, 2016
Online Publication Date Jul 18, 2016
Publication Date Apr 3, 2017
Deposit Date Aug 2, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Local environment
Print ISSN 1354-9839
Electronic ISSN 1469-6711
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 22
Issue 4
Pages 410-423
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2016.1210591
Keywords Geography; Planning and development; Management; Monitoring; Policy and law
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/441939
Publisher URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13549839.2016.1210591
Additional Information Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=cloe20