degrowthUK

 
 
POSTED: March 6, 2024
 
 
 
 
 

I recently learned about degrowthUK, which launched in September 2018. According to its website,

Degrowth is a radical alternative to the dominant neoliberal and growth-centred economic orthodoxy. Degrowth is both an academic discipline, emerging out of ecological economics and political ecology, and a social movement linking activists in community-based economic, social and environmental alternatives as well as more macro-scale political action.

DegrowthUK aims to facilitate the networking of degrowth enthusiasts in UK by providing a platform to share information on events, actions and news relevant to the degrowth movement.

They suggest that, if “you are new to the concept of degrowth, check out this introduction on degrowth.info”. The link doesn’t work (it brings up a 500 error) but the site does, and the site has this to say:

Degrowth is an idea that critiques the global capitalist system which pursues growth at all costs, causing human exploitation and environmental destruction. The degrowth movement of activists and researchers advocates for societies that prioritize social and ecological well-being instead of corporate profits, over-production and excess consumption. This requires radical redistribution, reduction in the material size of the global economy, and a shift in common values towards care, solidarity and autonomy. Degrowth means transforming societies to ensure environmental justice and a good life for all within planetary boundaries.

The site has further information, including a history or degrowth, and an explanation about their use of the term which, far from carrying negative meanings, apparently comes from “la décroissance in French or la decrescita in Italian [which] refer to a river going back to its normal flow after a disastrous flood”.

I think should definitely learn more, and also that we should consider exploring the possibility of arranging some interviews for a podcast or two on miaaw.net