Solarpunk

224 readers

1 users here now

The space to discuss Solarpunk itself and Solarpunk related stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere.

What is Solarpunk?

Join our chat: Movim or XMPP client.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

ex_06@slrpnk.net

poVoq@slrpnk.net

SteveKLord@slrpnk.net

Kohei Saito’s “Start From Scratch” Degrowth Communism | if taken seriously, it would lead to political disaster for both the socialist left and the environmental movement | Jacobin (jacobin.com)

submitted 8 months ago by stabby_cicada@slrpnk.net to c/solarpunk@slrpnk.net

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Degrowth is a popular concept among solarpunks. This Jacobin article discusses some of its flaws from a Marxist standpoint. In particular, Jacobin reminds us an interpretation of Marxism which blames the Western working class for exploiting the Global South, and lectures the ever-more-exploited Western worker on the need to consume less, divides international labor against itself and sabotages its own best hope of success.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Maybe an unpopular opinion here, but degrowth of any kind will never be marketable or popular with the working class.

[–] HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 8 months ago

It needs to avoid being couched as "you'll have to make do with less."

I wonder how much degrowth can be achieved by hollowing out production without broad utility (yachts, expensive military toys) while still promising the masses the basics.

On the other hand, we're seeing the status quo pushing the same stories-- the whole "scrimp and cut out anything beyond bare survival and maybe you'll qualify for a mortgage by 60." We don't need degrowth to get quality of life degradation!

[–] zerakith@lemmy.ml 3 points 8 months ago

Worth mentioning that we need to be aware the degrowth in a degrowth scenario is a global average. Working classes could see growth (in living standards) whilst the whole economy shrunk.

On a lot issues people consistently say the they want the sort of changes (energy) degrowth would provide. We shouldn't get lost in the current systems deliberate blurring of economic value and living standards.

See for example this work here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-018-0021-4