Buen vivir: a concept on the rise in Europe

The paper explores 'buen vivir' (living well), a biocentric paradigm from Latin America that challenges the modern focus on infinite economic growth. While formal EU-Latin America diplomatic efforts, such as the 2015 EuroLat resolution, have acknowledged the concept, it remains overshadowed by the 'green economy' and 'European Green Deal' frameworks that maintain a focus on productivity. However, the authors identify a rise in local European initiatives—such as granting legal rights to nature in Spain and the Netherlands and the growth of agroecology and commons-based projects—that align with the logic of buen vivir by seeking a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

• Buen vivir is a biocentric paradigm rooted in indigenous Quechua and Aymara traditions of South America that rejects the anthropocentrism of modernity and the logic of infinite economic growth, instead proposing a coexistence of humans in harmony with nature.
• The concept gained significant political visibility in the early 21st century through its inclusion in the constitutions of Ecuador (2008) and Bolivia (2009), with Ecuador becoming the first country to constitutionally recognise the rights of nature.
• There is a fundamental tension between buen vivir and European policy frameworks like the 'green economy' and the 'European Green Deal', as the latter are viewed as forms of 'green modernisation' that continue to prioritise economic growth and productivity.
• While formal bi-regional adoption of buen vivir has stalled since a 2015 EuroLat resolution, the concept is manifesting in Europe through local-level 'transition movements' and the legal recognition of nature's rights.
• Practical applications of buen vivir's logic in Europe are particularly evident in countries affected by the 2008 economic crisis, such as Spain and Greece, through initiatives like agroecological farming, local currencies, and direct democracy.

APA

Hoernandez, G., & Laats, H. (2020). Buen vivir: a concept on the rise in Europe. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/buen-vivir-a-concept-on-the-rise-in-europe/

Chicago

Hoernandez, Gustavo, and Henkjan Laats. Buen vivir: a concept on the rise in Europe. Green European Journal, 2020. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/buen-vivir-a-concept-on-the-rise-in-europe/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hoernandez |first1=Gustavo |last2=Laats |first2=Henkjan |title=Buen vivir: a concept on the rise in Europe |publisher=Green European Journal |date=28 December 2020 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/buen-vivir-a-concept-on-the-rise-in-europe/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hoernandez2020buen, author = {Hoernandez, Gustavo and Laats, Henkjan}, title = {{Buen vivir: a concept on the rise in Europe}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/buen-vivir-a-concept-on-the-rise-in-europe/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }