Key points from the article:
- Degrowth Manifesto: Kohei Saito's book, "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," argues for prioritizing economic sustainability over growth to address climate change and environmental issues.
- Eco-Marxism: Saito draws on Marx's later works, advocating for an eco-socialist approach that emphasizes sustainable interaction between humans and nature.
- Technology and Sustainability: The book critiques the belief that technology alone can solve ecological problems, proposing a reduction in consumption and a focus on essential needs.
- Global Impact: Saito highlights the importance of considering the global south and avoiding solutions that externalize environmental damage to less affluent regions.
what is the Degrowth theory
The Degrowth theory is an idea that critiques the global capitalist system which pursues growth at all costs, causing human exploitation and environmental destruction. The key principles of the Degrowth theory are:
Sustainability: Recognizing that we live in a finite world with limited resources, and that infinite economic and demographic growth is impossible[1][2][3].
Social well-being: Prioritizing social and ecological well-being over corporate profits, over-production and excess consumption[2].
Equity: Ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of the necessary reductions in production and consumption[4].
Direct democracy: Advocating for a more participatory and democratic economic model, moving away from the current growth-centric paradigm[1][2].
Localized economies: Promoting localized, decentralized economic systems rather than globalized, centralized ones[3].
The Degrowth theory emerged in the 1970s, with early proponents like French intellectual André Gorz, who argued that economic growth could no longer bring increased human welfare[5]. It has since developed into an international social and intellectual movement, with regular conferences and growing influence[1][5].
The core argument of Degrowth is that we must deliberately and equitably scale back global production and consumption to fit within the planet's ecological limits, rather than pursuing endless growth[3][4]. This represents a radical shift from the current economic model[4].
ReferenceLinks:
[1] Degrowth: the history of an idea - EHNE https://ehne.fr/en/encyclopedia/themes/material-civilization/transnational-consumption-and-circulations/degrowth-history-idea [2] The degrowth movement https://degrowth.info/degrowth [3] What is the Degrowth Theory? Is it the Answer? - Impact Hub Berlin https://berlin.impacthub.net/blog/is-degrowth-the-answer/ [4] Rethinking Growth: Is Degrowth The Answer To A Sustainable Future? https://www.forbes.com/sites/nilsrokke/2023/08/21/rethinking-growth-is-degrowth-the-answer-to-a-sustainable-future/?sh=58dd7c603ba5 [5] Degrowth: the case for a new economic paradigm | openDemocracy https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/degrowth-case-for-constructing-new-economic-paradigm/