Let’s put some life into this sub. I don’t think degrowth is possible under capitalism because the imperative to degrow contradicts the capitalist drive for the creation of value (valorization) which must always grow under capitalism’
Let’s put some life into this sub. I don’t think degrowth is possible under capitalism because the imperative to degrow contradicts the capitalist drive for the creation of value (valorization) which must always grow under capitalism’
My big thing about degrowth is that it is terrible branding, not as bad as “defund the police”, but it’s pretty bad. I’m all for degrowth, but the more subtle and harder-to-fit-in-a-soundbite point is that economic degrowth can result in a general improvement of the actual lived experience of a huge number of human beings.
We all know that the ‘good news everyone!’ of economic news doesn’t reach into the lives of most ordinary people. However, ‘degrowth’ is an academic term that is accurate - according to the dominant paradigm of economic growth - but lands on deaf ears outside of wonky circles. I am a wonk, but I know from painful experience that wonks don’t rule the world.
I personally prefer ‘regrowth’ because regrowth will occur if we just stop doing the stuff that interferes with natural regeneration. Something akin to not stepping on the little daisy struggling to grow in a crack in the concrete. Symbolism matters!
Any thoughts on this or other reframing of the idea that might reach further into the public consciousness?
To respond to the post directly, yes it is possible, but we have to fight the capitalists to make degrowth happen under capitalism. It is a fight of words and ideas, most of the time.
I highly doubt that a capitalist can be convinced to degrow. The very existence of a capitalist and the desire for infinite growth is incompatible with a degrowth paradigm. Nothing less than a revolution can initiate degrowth. Either we will hit the end of growth like a wall of bricks, or a revolution in society implements degrowth.