Federico Demaria et. al. discuss the movement of “degrowth” which emerged in France at the heels of social protests. Degrowth comes from concern over ecologic sustainability and a critique of the modern view of “development” and economic-based societies. Rather than advocate for “sustainable development”, an oxymoron, the degrowth movement calls for a new way of thinking; one which views human and environmental issues as intertwined and “a rediscovery of human identity which is disentangled from economic representations”.
Degrowth was influenced in part by ecological economics which argues that growth-based economic system cannot be sustained. As well it has grown out of a desire to change what is seen as important, a belief that there is more to life than working, making money and buying things. This goes directly against standard economic assumptions that more=happier. Calls for degrowth also come from a desire for equality and justice, and the belief that current frameworks of capitalism and ‘trickle-down’ economics cannot address these issues.
The authors describe various actions degrowth proponents take, from opposition to large projects, civil disobedience, protests, as well as developing alternatives to present institutions and voluntary simplicity. There is a variety of size in actions taken, from the micro to macro level and debate over how large scale degrowth would look.
Degrowth has implications for many aspects of society-including agriculture. Where modern agriculture is predecated on being more effiecent and increasing profit a system influenced by degrowth would be based more on concepts of equality and sustainability; the idea of having enough as opposed to having everything.
- Federico Demaria, François Schneider, Filka Sekulova, and Joan Martinez-Alier. “What is Degrowth? From an Activist Slogan to a Social Movement” From Environmental Values, vol. 22, no.2 (2013): 191–215.