An introduction to the degrowth movement worldwide
A sense of urgency pervades global environmentalism, and the degrowth movement is bursting into the mainstream. As climate catastrophe looms closer, people are eager to learn what degrowth is about, and whether we can save the planet by changing how we live. This book is an introduction to the movement.
As politicians and corporations obsess over growth objectives, the degrowth movement demands that we must slow down the economy by transforming our economies, our politics and our cultures to live within the Earth's limits.
This book navigates the practice and strategies of the movement, looking at its strengths and weaknesses. Covering horizontal democracy, local economies and the reduction of work, it shows us why degrowth is a compelling and realistic project.
Vincent Liegey is an engineer, interdisciplinary researcher, spokesperson for the French degrowth movement and co-author of Un Projet de Décroissance (Editions Utopia, 2013). He is also the coordinator of Cargonomia — a centre for research and experimentation on degrowth, a social cooperative for sustainable logistical solutions and local food distribution using cargo-bikes in Budapest.
Anitra Nelson is Honorary Principal Fellow at the Informal Urbanism Research Hub (InfUr-), University of Melbourne, Australia and co-author of Exploring Degrowth, co-editor of Life Without Money and author of Marx's Concept of Money.
Jason Hickel is an economic anthropologist, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of ‘The Divide: Global Inequality from Conquest to Free Markets’.
'Everyone knows we can't go on like this. As the world lurches from crisis to crisis, Exploring Degrowth outlines alternatives to a capitalism that expands like a cancer. This is a lively and accessible introduction to the ideas, theorists and controversies associated with degrowth'
- Jeff Sparrow, 'Guardian''This book is the perfect introduction to the burgeoning intellectual and activist movement of degrowth. Short, crisp and provocative'
- Giorgos Kallis, ecological economist, author of 'Limits''A superbly written reflection on degrowth politics'
- Ariel Salleh, editor of 'Eco-Sufficiency and Global Justice''This is an excellent introduction to the degrowth perspective, an important contribution to an urgent debate.'
- John Holloway, author of 'Change the World Without Taking Power''We can improve people’s lives right now, without any growth at all, simply by sharing what we already have more fairly and investing in public goods. Equity is the antidote to the growth imperative. ... Of course, all of this leaves us with a million questions. What does a such an economy look like? How does it work? How do we get there? The book you hold in your hands traces a path through this thicket, and paints a picture of the new economy that lies ahead – an economy that enables human flourishing for all within planetary boundaries'
- Jason Hickel, author of 'Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World'List of Figures and Boxes
List of Abbreviations and Symbols
Glossary
Series Preface
Foreword by Jason Hickel
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction: Exploring ‘Degrowth’
2. Decolonising Our Growth Imaginaries
3. Degrowth in Practice
4. Political Strategies for Degrowth
5. The Degrowth Project: A Work in Progress
Postface: ‘Now Is the Time of Monsters’
Appendix 1: A Platform for Degrowth
Appendix 2: The Content of the Unconditional Autonomy Allowance
Appendix 3: Implementing the Unconditional Autonomy Allowance: Transitionary Steps
Notes
Selected Further Reading and Links
Index
eBook ISBN: 9781786807601
224 pages
129mm x 198mm