Degrowth is a noble ideal to strive for, and it would certainly mitigate a lot of our current problems if implemented. However, I fear that it is an ideal that can be adopted by the few but not the many. Growth, progress and personal ambition are inherent human traits - it may not be the case for all people, but it is certainly evident in today’s society and many societies that have come before. In my opinion, we need solutions and frameworks that most (if not all) personalities can exist within. I worry degrowth is wishful thinking, and would love to hear your thoughts.

All of that said - I believe it is a very worthwhile thought exercise and even if all degrowth principles cannot be implemented, some can and that is what matters.

  • solo@slrpnk.netEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    I read the article you linked but I don’t see how it backs your argument that degrowth could be compatible with some form of capitalism (as you mention in your first sentence). It seems to me this article does the opposite.

    Personally, I can’t think of any kind of capitalism that is compatible with policies / goals / objectives related to:

    Tax justice for social ecological justice

    or

    Redistribute land, labour, capital and resources within and between countries

    or

    Direct activism and sabotage For example - anti-capitalism malware program

    or

    Restrict platform capitalism (e.g. AirBnB); Promote decentralised platform cooperative models

    etc

    (found in the Appendix A. Thematic synthesis of degrowth policy proposals)

    For me degrowth is potentially one way to get rid of capitalism.