The purpose of this thesis is to explore how the experiences had by past and present ecovillage inhabitants can and/or does contribute towards a shift of strong sustainability for wider mainstream western societies. Using a longitudinal ethnographic approach with a community of practice lens to actively participate in, as well as observe all activities in and out of the ecovillage, reflecting on how the researcher and others learnt or benefited from that experience. Incorporating a wide range of unique data collection methods such as, walk-along interviews, photography, autoethnographic reflections, and community diaries to uncover not only how the ecovillage community as a collective respond to achieving a transition towards strong sustainability, but also how they engage wider, supporting local, national, and international networks. The results suggest that ecovillage communities that are radically different from mainstream society, attract greater attention, and have a larger impact on the local economy, compared to ecovillage communities that bare a closer resemblance to mainstream society, in that they are socially structured to be incorporated almost entirely into mainstream society, but have adopted sustainable building and some self-sufficiency practices, but have less emphasis on being a centre for learning. The latter being exclusive to those few who can afford the lifestyle, the former; the ecovillage directly experienced in this study, having a vast amount of opportunities to learn, participate, and practice, and available to a larger proportion of people. The resilience and preservation of local cultures, and sustainable economies benefit, and in some cases, rely on the existence of ecovillages that act as engaging sustainable communities of practice. Using social learning theory to develop communities of practice, to introduce Communities of Learning as an extended conceptual framework to examine findings from a more abstract point of view. Adapted into the methodology, to provide new insight into generating new findings; and further contributing to an area that has a lack of research and abstract views. Ultimately this approach, has enabled this research to uncover how ecovillages can operate as centres of learning, and their direct impact on mainstream society, suggesting that policy makers should be encouraged to participate in, or provide, changes to policy; and funding to programmes; that 1. Give opportunity to access the practices and knowledge of ecovillage communities, and 2. Give opportunity to scale the level of socio-economic benefits emitted from ecovillage activities in the local economy; and 3. Shift the reliance on mainstream economics in western societies to participating both economically and socially with sustainable communities of learning.
| Date of Award | 26 Jun 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Snow Wu (Main Supervisor) & Rabake Nana (Co-Supervisor) |
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