Moving things along: the conduits and practices of divestment in consumption

Gregson, N.; Metcalfe, A.; Crewe, L.

doi:10.1111/j.1475-5661.2007.00253.x

Moving things along: the conduits and practices of divestment in consumption

Gregson, N.; Metcalfe, A.; Crewe, L.

Authors

Professor Nicola Gregson nicky.gregson@durham.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor

A. Metcalfe

L. Crewe

Abstract

This paper provides a geographical analysis of divestment. Drawing on two years of intensive qualitative research with households, we explore empirically the range of conduits that figure in household divestment, showing how surplus and excess things are routinely moved through specific conduits. We argue that, rather than focusing on the trajectories of things in divestment, it is practices of divestment that merit attention, and that divestment itself is also a practice. Further, we argue that divestment practices are about trying to constitute a normative around surplus and excess things; that they connect up to the reproduction of particular consumption practices and to the meta practice of consumption. The paper also considers the relation between divestment practice and the question of disposal. We argue that, as well as paying attention to conduits, connectivities and the work of the return, there is a need to focus on placings and practices, that not only have the potential to act-back but which are always acting-back.

Citation

Gregson, N., Metcalfe, A., & Crewe, L. (2007). Moving things along: the conduits and practices of divestment in consumption. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 32(2), 187-200. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2007.00253.x

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Apr 1, 2007
Deposit Date	Dec 22, 2011
Publicly Available Date	Apr 2, 2013
Journal	Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers
Print ISSN	0020-2754
Electronic ISSN	1475-5661
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	32
Issue	2
Pages	187-200
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2007.00253.x
Keywords	Divestment, Consumption, Practice, Disposal.