Captured Futures: Rethinking the Drama of Environmental Politics

Introduction to the Event

On September 2, 2025, from 15:30 to 17:30, a significant discourse on environmental politics will take place, featuring Jeroen Oomen from Utrecht University as the main speaker. Joining him in the discussion will be notable discussants Andy Stirling and Pauline Heinrichs from King’s College London. This event promises to delve deep into the complexities of how environmental politics are shaped, influenced, and ultimately restricted by prevailing narratives and ideologies.

The Premise of "Captured Futures"

The core thesis of the event revolves around the concept of "Captured Futures." It asserts that contemporary environmental political strategies have become stagnant, failing to effectively address the critical ecological challenges we face. Oomen posits that this failure is not merely a product of lobbying or political inertia, but rather a more profound issue: a "capture" of the imaginative capacities and frameworks that define environmental politics.

The Concept of Capture

In the context of this discussion, "capture" refers to the ways in which our abilities to envision viable futures for the environment have been constrained. This ideological capture manifests itself through a narrow set of accepted narratives—the dramatic roles that various stakeholders play. Scientists, for example, often limit their models to a predefined set of eco-friendly solutions, activists resort to politically palatable rhetoric, and policymakers focus on technologically feasible win-win scenarios. This collective behavior not only restricts the solution space but also perpetuates an ineffective status quo.

The Role of Ecological Modernization

Central to understanding this capture is the concept of ecological modernization. This approach, which seeks to align economic growth with environmental sustainability, creates a regulatory framework heavily reliant on technology. While this sounds promising, Oomen’s analysis reveals that it often leads to overly speculative and unsustainable technological fixes that do little to address underlying systemic issues. The reliance on technological "magic bullets" detracts from a more comprehensive understanding of the ecological crises we are facing.

Discourse and Dramaturgical Analysis

In unpacking the limitations of current environmental politics, Oomen employs discourse analysis and dramaturgical analysis. Discourse analysis examines the language and narratives that dominate environmental discussions, highlighting how certain ideas become entrenched while others are marginalized. Similarly, dramaturgical analysis explores the roles different stakeholders assume within the environmental political landscape. By framing these issues through a performance lens, we can better understand how the "scripts" we follow hinder genuine progress.

A Glimmer of Hope

Despite these challenges, "Captured Futures" does not present a wholly pessimistic outlook. The latter part of Oomen’s discussion introduces avenues for hope. By breaking away from the dominant discourse of ecological modernization, there exists potential for new narratives and practices that can invigorate environmental politics.

Cultural Approaches to Environmental Politics

Oomen advocates for a cultural approach to environmental politics. Such an approach encourages the formation of new discourses that transcend traditional models and open up space for innovative solutions. By employing alternative "dramaturgies of change," stakeholders can begin to reshape the narratives that govern our understanding of ecological futures. This means seeking diverse perspectives that challenge the existing frameworks and foster imaginative thinking about potential futures.

The New Scientific Coordinators

Facilitating this discussion are the scientific coordinators Benoît Pélopidas and Sterre Van Buuren, who aim to ground these complex ideas in empirical research and scholarship. Their role underscores the importance of bringing academic rigor to the often chaotic realm of environmental politics.

Engaging with Broader Audiences

The notion of "Captured Futures" is timely and crucial in an era marked by climate uncertainty and political unrest around environmental issues. By engaging a broad audience, from policymakers to activists, this event aims to elevate conversations about sustainability beyond conventional narratives, pushing for a collaborative reimagining of our ecological trajectories.

Conclusion

This forthcoming dialogue at Sciences Po promises to be an engaging exploration of the intersection between politics and environmental action. With its emphasis on creativity and cultural narratives, it offers fresh insights into how we might break free from the constraints of current environmental politics, ultimately paving the way for more effective solutions to our most pressing ecological challenges.