Composting Capitalism: entangling with each other and disentangling from capitalism to create alternative prefigurative networks and systems

Abstract

This thesis examines whether and how collaborative relations, structures and practices enable prefigurative alternative networks to be more effective and impactful in their collective goals. To do so, the research developed a novel analytical framework for network emergence through the lens of entanglement and disentanglement. This was then applied to an in-depth case study of a network in development to provide empirical data and demonstrate the organizing utility of the (dis)entanglement framework. The case study focused on Amped Concepts, a concept innovation bureau for systemic change in the Amsterdam region of the Netherlands that facilitates collaborations among bottom up initiatives and with top down institutions toward the development of a robust, regional and regenerative food system. The empirical findings and analysis show how Amped employs centralizing, decentralizing, and stabilizing practices to both foster interdependence toward an alternative food system (entanglement) and disrupt capitalist logics within and beyond the network (disentanglement), offering a foundation for further empirical and comparative studies across different sectors.