Pluralising social reproduction approaches: Alessandra Mezzadri, Shirin Rai, Sara Stevano in conversation

This conversation touches upon key points of a joint article recently published in the International Feminist Journal of Politics (Mezzadri, Rai, Stevano, with et al, 2025) and concerned with ways of pluralising feminist readings of the world economy centering social reproduction. 

The concept of social reproduction has gained renewed interest in the past decade. Discussed and elaborated by generations of feminists, the concept offers a rejection of productivism and the possibility to (re)tell the history of capitalism and its contemporary dynamics through the work and practices of life-making. Yet, it is undeniable that much of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ theorising around social reproduction comes predominantly from the Global North. Hence, the authors argue, a pluralising of social reproduction is needed. 

The article draws on existing debates on social reproduction to pluralise their theoretical premises, disciplinary boundaries, and empirical reach to suggest a global progressive agenda centred on Social Reproduction Approaches (SRAs) that is able to speak to the challenges and complexities of processes of life-making worldwide. Foregrounding such complexity, the paper considers conceptual issues; it sets location as central to pluralising SRAs; and discusses the associated methodological and political questions. 

The joint article concludes that pluralising SRAs through paying attention to location is the first step towards identifying the multiple and heterogenous ways in which processes of social reproduction are structured and operate under capitalism and towards developing solidarities able to challenge the oppressions of global capitalism and reclaim life-making activities and spaces. 

This collective paper is the first output of a series of interventions aimed at pluralising social reproduction approaches, and the broader agenda will also be presented in the course of the session.

Panellists

• Alessandra Mezzadri, Reader in Global Development and Political Economy, SOAS University of London
• Shirin Rai, Distinguished Research Professor of Politics and International Relations, SOAS University of London
• Sara Stevano, Senior Lecturer in Economics, SOAS University of London

This event is part of the SOAS Global Development Seminar Series, hosted by DevTraC.