Periodic Reporting for period 1 - R2R4postgrowth (A right to repair for a post-growth society: Controversies, opportunities and challenges)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-09-01 al 2024-08-31
The need to continuously stimulate consumer demand within saturated capitalist markets has driven manufacturers of electronic equipment to adopt dubious marketing practices associated with planned obsolescence (e.g. they might artificially shorten the lifespan of their products, downplay issues of durability and maintenance during the design stage, and on). The social and ecological costs of these trends are enormous, and the world is currently on track to produce 74 million tonnes of e-waste by 2030. In this context, there is mounting pressure on manufacturers and policy-makers to facilitate consumers the "right to repair" (R2R) their electronic devices, rather than relying on the manufacturer to make/authorise repairs with proprietary components. This demand has sparked a controversy concerning the limits of the R2R, with large multinational corporations such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, or John Deere disputing this concept on economic, technical, legal or safety grounds. In this regard, the present project aims at elucidating how ongoing debates and policies about the "right to repair" can be conceptualised and implemented to support a transition towards a postgrowth society. The methodology adopted will be based on controversy mapping, which is widely used in the field of Science and Technology Studies. First, a controversy map will be elaborated, showing the different stakeholders and their evolving positions (both for and against) regarding the R2R. Next, fieldwork will be conducted with grassroots organisations and technology activists involved in the R2R campaign. Finally, I will analyse the R2R in light of contemporary postgrowth frameworks to establish key challenges/opportunities for transforming society- technology relations in more sustainable ways. By doing so, this project pushes forward the boundaries of current knowledge and advances our understanding of the role of technology and innovation in postgrowth transitions.
As a key note to the progress report, it is important to clarify that this project was formally terminated just four months after its inception, marking an end to its progress on the 31st of December, 2022. The termination process was initiated prior to this closing date. Therefore, the progress detailed below, along with the descriptions of work performed on each work package, correspond to this abbreviated timeline.
• Work Package 1: During this phase, a thorough pilot of the research design and questions was carried out (M1.1). This involved an iterative process of refinement driven by further reflection, an extensive literature review, and discussions with my mentor at the University of Vigo, in addition to question piloting.
• Work Package 2: A comprehensive career plan was completed after discussions with my mentor (draft uploaded). Concurrently, I completed adequate Data Management and Open Science Training provided by the University of Vigo (M2.3). I also initiated and finished training on controversy mapping methodology (M2.2) as per the structure and resources available at https://jacomyma.github.io/mapping-controversies/(si apre in una nuova finestra).
• Work Package 3: Initial media presence for the project was established through the Postgrowth Innovation Lab website (M3.1) at https://postgrowth-lab.webs.uvigo.es/r2r4postgrowth/(si apre in una nuova finestra). Furthermore, I established contacts with media through the press services of the University of Vigo
(M3.2) as evident from https://www.uvigo.gal/es/universidad/comunicacion/duvi/fronte-(si apre in una nuova finestra) obsolescencia-programada-proxecto-explora-facer-sostible-dereito-reparar.
• Work Package 4: During this period, I prepared a consent form and a data management plan for the project (draft uploaded).
Despite the project's early termination, significant progress was made in each of these areas, laying a solid groundwork for further research in the field.
• Work Package 1: During this phase, a thorough pilot of the research design and questions was carried out (M1.1). This involved an iterative process of refinement driven by further reflection, an extensive literature review, and discussions with my mentor at the University of Vigo, in addition to question piloting.
• Work Package 2: A comprehensive career plan was completed after discussions with my mentor (draft uploaded). Concurrently, I completed adequate Data Management and Open Science Training provided by the University of Vigo (M2.3). I also initiated and finished training on controversy mapping methodology (M2.2) as per the structure and resources available at https://jacomyma.github.io/mapping-controversies/(si apre in una nuova finestra).
• Work Package 3: Initial media presence for the project was established through the Postgrowth Innovation Lab website (M3.1) at https://postgrowth-lab.webs.uvigo.es/r2r4postgrowth/(si apre in una nuova finestra). Furthermore, I established contacts with media through the press services of the University of Vigo
(M3.2) as evident from https://www.uvigo.gal/es/universidad/comunicacion/duvi/fronte-(si apre in una nuova finestra) obsolescencia-programada-proxecto-explora-facer-sostible-dereito-reparar.
• Work Package 4: During this period, I prepared a consent form and a data management plan for the project (draft uploaded).
Despite the project's early termination, significant progress was made in each of these areas, laying a solid groundwork for further research in the field.