The Historical Trajectory of Degrowth A Shrinking Society in an Accelerating World
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Degrowth is not a new idea, but a long history of utopian thought and scientific critique of perpetual economic growth. 💡 We analyze the journey of the idea, from William Morris and Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen to Cornelius Castoriadis and Kohei Saito (Degrowth Communism). Ultimately, is degrowth the future, or does it lead to Geopolitical Atrophy?
🔎 Milestones in the History and Theory of Degrowth
Early Utopias (19th century): Reactions to the Industrial Revolution (Morris, Thoreau, Tolstoy) introduce the concept that prosperity is not synonymous with accumulation, prioritizing sufficiency and self-realization.
The Theoretical Shock of the ’70s: Georgescu-Roegen posits the law of entropy as a scientific limit to limitless growth. Ivan Illich criticizes industrial institutions and proposes a "convivial society" with low energy consumption.
French Political Theory (Castoriadis & Latouche): Cornelius Castoriadis reveals growth as a social imaginary that deprives society of the capacity for self-limitation (autonomous society). Serge Latouche builds the political theory of décroissance upon the need to "de-colonize the imaginary" from the obsession with "more."
Radical Marxism (Saito): Kohei Saito proposes "degrowth communism" as the only answer to the climate crisis, promoting reduced production, decommodification of basic goods, and ecological self-limitation.
🌍 The Geopolitical Deadlock We examine the most powerful counter-argument:
The Threat of Dependence: A society that shrinks its production and military power in a world where the US, China, and India are accelerating their economies will quickly find itself in conditions of dependence and geopolitical precariousness.
Power and Technology: Technological backwardness and energy contraction lead to a loss of sovereignty. Power in the 21st century is generated by growth.
Utopia or Dead End: Degrowth can only be sustainable as a collective, global endeavor. As a national strategy, it functions as an island of self-regulation that will sooner or later be absorbed by the "ocean" of competition.
💬 Call to Action & Conclusion Degrowth remains a vision caught between ecological necessity and geopolitical weakness. Its history is a continuous challenge to the prevailing logic.
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