Temporality in visions of desirable futures: Chronos and Kairos in the case of the circular economy on Gotland

Abstract

This article explores the role of temporality in imagining a desirable future, in the case of the circular economy on the Swedish island of Gotland. By examining how temporal categories, including the present and the past and Chronos & Kairos, influence our thinking about the future, it contends that the circular economy offers a unique opportunity to remake the possibilities of what the future can be. The article argues that in articulating depictions of the future, our ideas of the past, the present and the future play a constituent role. Through an analysis of a case study on Gotland, it illustrates the ways in which different temporal understandings are entangled with visions of the circular economy. The findings of this study reveal valuable insights, illustrating that by embracing Chronos and seizing Kairos moments, the circular economy can catalyse transformative possibilities for the future. This aims to contribute to ongoing discussions about the circular economy by highlighting the importance of considering temporal dimensions in imagining sustainable futures.