DEMOCRACY, A TALE OF SUSTAINABILITY Discourse, Power, and Political Ecology (Skouries of Halkidiki case study) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVZ8bK1bQt4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT_y54Q8BeA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAhQd2qjXBQ http://www.smallplanet.gr/en/documentaries/chronologically/2012-2013/313-golden-times-cassandras-treasure

Introduction Marteen Hajer: Environmental Discourse Analysis (Analytical Discourse Framework). Cornelius Castoriadis: “Project Of Autonomy”. Skouries of Ηalkidiki, the study area of my project focused on a mining field where different interests (the former Greek Government, Private companies) underlie the global forces shaped by the capitalist imaginary and the neoliberal paradigm. However, the society of Skouries, as well as citizens from all over Greece, responded back to the mining procedure in order to prevent the massive exploitation and the absolute destruction of their natural and social habitat. Unfortunately, the destruction is already observable in theory (Research analysis) as well as in practice (Deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, water poisoning, air pollution, etc).

Object of the study This paper was an effort to project the vitality of democracy (autonomy) in relation to power, ecology and sustainability. My focus was to locate and criticize the ways in which the hegemonic sustainability discourse shapes policy implementations in the “western world”, especially in the context of the European union. More specifically, I selected a specific area of a European nation (Greece) as my case study. More explicitly, I tried to point out the hegemonic environmental discourse of sustainability and its major story-lines in the capitalist imaginary: How it has affected Greece in practice and more specifically the location of Skouries of Halkidiki (Environmentally and Socially). Finally, by creating a fruitful critique through “the project of autonomy” by Castoriadis, I tried to expose the essentiality of democracy (autonomy) in order sustainability to be achieved.

Research Question Split in two parts: What is the hegemonic sustainability discourse in capitalism, and how does it affect the environment and society of Skouries of Halkidhii (Greece)? Why is the project of autonomy (Democracy) essential in order to achieve sustainability?

Definition of Key Concepts Democracy in the classical terms is the only form of democracy that ever existed (it is the project of autonomy)-(direct and non-hierarchical regime). Modern societies (called representative democracies or Republics) are “Liberal Oligarchies” (Castoriadis, 2010). The three sphere case: Public, Private and the Public/Private. -Why totalitarian and liberal-hierarchical regimes can not be sustainable. Hegemonic Sustainability Discourse in the capitalist imaginary (growth, development, progress, “mastery of nature”) and neoliberalism (A brief historical review of the classics till our times). Political Ecology approach: “Ecology is primarily political; it is not scientific. Science, as such, is unable to set its own limits or its ends” (Castoriadis, 2010:197).

Methodology Data Collection and Analysis: Secondary Data Collection and Analysis. World System Theory-System Theory. Svarstad’s concept (four level analysis) which embeds: Hajer’s Critical Discourse Analysis. Castoriadis’ Critique through “The Project of Autonomy” and the Revolutionary Potency of Ecology.

Data Analysis Case Study Global-European-Greek-Local context of how capitalism and the neoliberal paradigm has been developed, influenced and influences theories and practices are implemented [imaginary- territorial]: (Monolithic economo-centric approaches which are implemented in different societal contexts are part of a specific ideological framework and discourses,) . Legislation procedures and the historical background of the case study introduces the reader to it. Analysis of collected data, made specifically for this case study, mainly documentaries and studies by the Mining Company and the University of Thessaloniki. (Consequences of the natural and social habitat from the mining project going on in the land of Aristotle. (Primary data were difficult to access because of time limitations. My strategy focused on concrete, thorough and extensive qualitative secondary sources). Connection of the practical implications exposed from the data analysis and the hegemonic sustainability discourse of the capitalist imaginary. Critique through the lens of Castoriadis and “the project of autonomy”.

Final Remarks -Thoughts Reflections and points of the topic and the findings: An alternative way is always inside of us (individually and socially) and can be expressed, projected and instituted if we are able to question any kind of established truth and authority (Heteronomy). Democracy (autonomy) and sustainability are essentially connected with each other. The society of Skouries will only succeed to achieve small wins for very limited time, in the case of transforming their existence into a sustainable living, because their efforts has fundamental heteronomous elements which vastly contradict the idea of autonomy-democracy as it has been presented in the paper.