Sustainable and slow cities: the quest for conviviality

Abstract

The concept of conviviality, introduced by Ivan Illich in his book Tools for Conviviality (1973), offers a solution to the counterproductive effects of fast transport. It is now widely recognized that fast transport does not save time for individuals and communities but rather increases the feeling of time famine and ultimately leads to greater energy consumption to travel longer distances. In today’s context of urban time famine and ecological crisis, I show that Illich’s system of thought finds empirical validity. An inductive approach in nine “Cittàslow” labeled European cities demonstrates that a slow pace of life and mobility contributes to the maintenance of friendly or convivial relations. Incorporating slow mobility policies into the broader framework of convivial cities could become a key instrument in the transition to a more sustainable path, while also offering prospects for future lifestyles that people find desirable. The article concludes by arguing that the pursuit of conviviality in cities can help promote slow mobility and sustainable living, ultimately contributing to a more environmentally conscious and socially connected society.

Keywords

• Conviviality
• degrowth
• pace of life
• travel speed
• Cittàslow