ABSTRACT
This chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Degrowth (2025) examines the linguistic domination of the English translation degrowth as a reductionist concept that has become prominent in ecological economics to advocate for the downscaling of production and consumption to reduce ecological footprints, planned democratically in a way that is equitable while securing well-being. Tracing its roots to the French décroissance movement of the early 2000s, this term evolved and found new expression in English-speaking discourse. Through an updated systematic mapping of degrowth literature, this analysis points to two pivotal linguistic features – the rich historical context and current capitalist publication landscape – to speculate on risks to the future direction of degrowth literature and, potentially, the movement. The chapter offers critical insights into how the prevalence of English-language academic discourse expanded the reach of the scientific concept and social movement but may have inadvertently led to a redefinition contradicting its revolutionary origins and potential.
