Transforming market–nature relations through an investigative practice

Degrowth theorists and practitioners have challenged the economic growth paradigm and sought for economic, cultural and political alternatives that would respect the planetary boundaries. Their strategy has generally been to either reject the formal market system as a whole and experiment with alternative practices outside markets or suggest changes in the policies that regulate markets. They have paid less attention to potential changes in market cultures. This paper seeks to foster the cultural transformation of current market–nature relations while retaining the radical core of degrowth. The paper presents an investigative practice that was found in an ethnographic study of an evolving forest-based market in Finland. The practice seems to have the potential to disrupt habitual ways of approaching nature and of turning it into exchangeable and consumable objects. According to practice theory, this kind of disruption creates space for emerging alternatives to the dominant practices. In this sense, the investigative practice works similarly to an environmental shock, without the harmful material effects. In addition, the investigative practice involves a critical approach that supports a transition toward sustainable market–nature relations.