Alternatives to growth. In search of the new social and economic models 3002-KON2021K55
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Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
The concept of moving away from economic growth towards a model based on social and environmental justice, ensuring the well-being of all while minimizing pressure on the environment, known as degrowth [fr. décroissance] began to gain popularity in the early 2000s, but its roots date back to the 1970s and the discussions triggered by the publication of the Club of Rome report. If we look even further back, we find in the history of culture numerous traditions calling for living in moderation and harmony with the natural environment, from which modern movements can draw.
We will look at degrowth and other alternatives to the capitalist economy of continuous growth. We will discuss the sources of these ideas and their practical implementation. We will analyze texts that are key to these concepts and look at specific actions. We will also look at discourses accompanying pro-growth and eco-modernist perspectives.
The exact program will be created on the basis of discussions with the group and will take their interests into account.
A large part of the texts for the classes will be in English.
Assessment criteria
The main methods of work will be discussions around selected texts, group work and conversations with invited guests. The form of final
assessment will be determined together with the group.
Bibliography
- Degrowth: A vocabulary for a new era, red. Federico Demaria et. al., 2015
- Jason Hickel, Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World, 2020
- John Bellamy Foster, Brett Clark, Richard York, "The Ecological Rift. Capitalism’s War on the Earth", New York 2010
- John Bellamy Foster, "The Return of Nature. Socialism nad ecology", 2020
- Michael Löwy, "Ecosocialism. A Radical Alternative to Capitalist Catastrophe" 2015
- Lewis Akenji "Sustainable Consumption or Consumer Scapegoatism?"
- Fuchs D, Sahakian M, Gumbert T, et al. (2021) Consumption Corridors: Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits. New York: Routledge.
- David Graeber, "Fragmenty antropologii anarchistycznej", Poznań 2021
- Giorgos Kallis, Limits: why Malthus was wrong and why environmentalists should care, 2019
- Joan Martınez-Alier, Environmental Justice and Economic Degrowth: An Alliance between Two Movements, "Capitalism, nature, socialism", 2012, nr 23
- Daniel W. O’Neill et. al., A good life for all within planetary boundaries, "Nature sustainability" 2018, nr 1
- Federico Demaria et. al, What is Degrowth? From an Activist Slogan to a Social Movement, "Environmental values" 2013, nr 22
- Dennis Meadows et. al., Granice wzrostu, 1973
- Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, Energy and Economic Myths, "Southern Economic Journal", Vol. 41, No. 3 (Jan., 1975)
- Stuart Chase, Tragedy of waste, 1925
- Housing for degrowth. Principles, Models, Challenges and Opportunities, red. Anitra Nelson, François Schneider, 2019
- Giorgos Kallis, Socialism without growth, "Capitalism, nature, socialism" 2017
Additional information
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