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Re-imagining the utopian: Transformation of a sustainable lifestyle in ecovillages

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  • Hong, Soonkwan
  • Vicdan, Handan

Abstract

This research elucidates the transformative nature of sustainable lifestyles in ecovillages as ostensibly utopian spaces. Using archival data from several ecovillages, in-depth interviews with ecovillage residents, and participatory observations made at the EcoVillage at Ithaca (EVI), New York, and Imeceevi, Turkey, the article explains the processes by which utopian ideals are re-imagined and re-configured based on the social configuration of the sustainable lifestyle. The findings suggest that consumers organize alternative life modes in their quest to explore and internalize environmentally sustainable lifestyles in multi-faceted ideological fields. The study documents the transformation of ecovillages from intentional to incidentally utopian communities where residents equally prioritize and contest relational sustainability. Drawing on these findings, the article also presents public policy implications on new educational programs and sharing economy.

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  • Hong, Soonkwan & Vicdan, Handan, 2016. "Re-imagining the utopian: Transformation of a sustainable lifestyle in ecovillages," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 120-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:69:y:2016:i:1:p:120-136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.07.026
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    Cited by:

    1. Frederik Plewnia & Edeltraud Guenther, 2017. "Advancing a sustainable sharing economy with interdisciplinary research [Der Beitrag interdisziplinärer Forschung zu einer nachhaltigen Sharing Economy]," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 117-124, June.
    2. Jason Papenfuss & Eileen Merritt, 2019. "Pedagogical Laboratories: A Case Study of Transformative Sustainability Education in an Ecovillage Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Kozinets, Robert V., 2021. "Reprint: YouTube utopianism: Social media profanation and the clicktivism of capitalist critique," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 349-365.
    4. Aleksandrina Atanasova, 2021. "Re-examining utopia in contemporary consumption: conceptualization and implications for marketing," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 11(1), pages 23-39, June.
    5. Kozinets, Robert V., 2019. "YouTube utopianism: Social media profanation and the clicktivism of capitalist critique," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 65-81.
    6. Davlembayeva, Dinara & Papagiannidis, Savvas & Alamanos, Eleftherios, 2020. "Sharing economy: Studying the social and psychological factors and the outcomes of social exchange," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

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