3 research outputs found
Culture as an objective for, and a means of achieving, a Wellbeing Economy
The world faces multiple intersecting crises, several of which are existential. The
current dominant economic design is at their root cause, leading to increased
advocacy for alternative economic approaches, including Wellbeing Economy.
However, the role of culture, both as an objective and as a means of achieving a
Wellbeing Economy, is largely absent. In this article, we review how culture has
been misunderstood as being dependent on the attainment of basic needs rather
than an ever-present, vital, but undervalued attribute of all societies. We discuss
how neoliberal economics has individualised and commodified culture, valuing it
only as an engine of economic growth and tradeable capital, all of which has led
to a substantial diminution and fraying of the social fabric which any positive
social transformation will rely upon. Finally, we demonstrate why culture is an
essential precondition for the creation of momentum for change through the
conversations, shared understandings, new narratives, and communal spaces of
all forms which cultural flourishing creates. We conclude by arguing that
advocates for a Wellbeing Economy, and similar economic models, such as
Doughnut Economics and Foundational Economies, should prioritise and embed
support for cultural development as a non-commodified social asset if we are to
adequately respond to current crises and navigate to a flourishing and habitable
future for ourselves and our descendants
Working with and for social enterprises: the role of the volunteer ethnographer
Purpose – This paper considers the specific opportunities and challenges of engaging in ethnographic research with organisations in which the researcher participates as a volunteer ethnographer. Design/methodology/approach – The findings in this paper are based on four years of ethnographic research within a social enterprise. Findings – This paper finds that there are significant benefits of the role of the volunteer ethnographer and suggests ways to address some of the challenges. Research limitations/implications – As the field of social enterprise and ethnography grows and researchers engage with methodological discussions about participant observation, the authors suggest that attention should also be paid to the specifics of the role of the volunteer ethnographer. Originality/value – There is growing interest in the use of ethnography in social enterprises. This paper offers unique insight into how this methodology has been applied in the context of self-reliant groups and the importance of the engaging with discussion about the specific role of the volunteer ethnographer