Mladen Domazet a,*, Jelena Puđak b, Branko Ančić c
a Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb, Croatia
b Institute for Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, Croatia
c Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author
Abstract
This article employs a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine how Croatian media represented degrowth in the aftermath of the 9th International Degrowth Conference held in Zagreb in 2023. By analysing 38 articles published shortly after the event, the study identifies a polarized media landscape structured around three dominant narrative framings: traditionalist‑populist, paternalist‑denialist, and ecological‑transformative. These narratives portray degrowth as a threat to national prosperity and identity, dismissed as impractical or naïve, or framed as a legitimate response to ecological and social pressures. Situating these representations within Croatia’s semi-peripheral, post‑socialist context, the analysis shows how media framings intersect with long‑standing developmental aspirations, public attitudes toward environmental and social justice, and local political dynamics. By deconstructing the discursive strategies through which degrowth is legitimized or delegitimized, the article contributes to understanding how environmental alternatives are negotiated in public debate and highlights the importance of context-sensitive communication in efforts toward socio-ecological transformation.
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References
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How to cite
APA
“They’ll have to give up the smartphones and take notes in paper notebooks”: Discourse, power, and meaning‑making in degrowth media presentations in the semi-peripheral context . (2026). In Degrowth Journal (Vol. 4). https://doi.org/10.36399/Degrowth.004.01.05
MLA
“‘They’Ll Have to Give up the Smartphones and Take Notes in Paper Notebooks’: Discourse, Power, and Meaning‑Making in Degrowth Media Presentations in the Semi-Peripheral Context .” Degrowth Journal, vol. 4, Oct. 2026, https://doi.org/10.36399/Degrowth.004.01.05.
Chicago
“‘They’Ll Have to Give up the Smartphones and Take Notes in Paper Notebooks’: Discourse, Power, and Meaning‑Making in Degrowth Media Presentations in the Semi-Peripheral Context .” 2026. In Degrowth Journal, vol. 4. https://doi.org/10.36399/Degrowth.004.01.05.
Harvard
“‘They’ll have to give up the smartphones and take notes in paper notebooks’: Discourse, power, and meaning‑making in degrowth media presentations in the semi-peripheral context ”(2026) Degrowth Journal. Available at: https://doi.org/10.36399/Degrowth.004.01.05.