Ecological Resistance in Intentional Communities. A Case Study of Sociocratic Governance in an Ecovillage in Navarre (Spain)

Abstract

This paper explores ecological resistance through the lived experience of Arterra Bizimodu, an ecovillage in Navarre, Spain, where around 40 people have come together to create a life centred on cooperation, sustainability, and shared governance. As part of a wider neo-rural movement, many of the residents – mainly aged between 25 and 45 – have chosen to leave urban life behind in search of a more meaningful and ecologically aligned existence. The community is the headquarters of GEN-Europe (Global Ecovillage Network) and plays a key role in networks supporting transforma-tive learning and regenerative living. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2024, includ-ing participant observation and 12 interviews, this study looks closely at how socio-cratic decision-making, permaculture design, and everyday ecological practices shape both personal and collective transformation. Tools like non-violent communication and participatory democracy help foster mutual trust, emotional awareness, and a sense of shared responsibility. Rather than representing utopian idealism or retreat, Arterra Bizimodu functions as a grounded experiment in socio-ecological transition. It illustrates how ecovillages can act as real-world laboratories in the daily practice of care, participation, and interdependence.