Academic Article
Abstract: This article introduces the importance of sustainability and citizenship by demonstrating that sustainability needs citizens, but also that citizens could benefit from the worldview that sustainability provides. It defines sustainability as a contested concept that nevertheless includes five basic principles: acknowledgment of ecological limits, long-term outlook, systems perspective, deliberative methods and reflexivity. These principles are shown to challenge current dominant political thinking, especially neoliberalism, which reduces citizens to passive consumers. Thus, sustainability can provide a new narrative for citizens to articulate their concerns with current political issues in Europe and point the way to potential solutions. At the same time, advocates should not take the appeal of sustainability as a given, but must do more to engage citizens and invite them to join the cause. Tags: Academic