counter-Industial Theories Flashcards
Key Idea
This is peoples centred approach that is fundamentally different, mod and neolib both see development as a process driven by large scale industalistion and lifestyles of consumption and wealth.
Environmentalism
Holds the view that the western example of “development” results in vast and controlled ecological damage with various side effects.
- Degradation of the biosphere, factories emit pollution at a faster rate which exceeds natures capacity of eliminate them.
- Depletion of natural resources, mass production has high demands for raw materials and industrialisation. e.g. deforest station.
- Loss of biodiversity, habitats and indigenous species are destroyed e.g. destroyed habitats. If it continues 2/3 of plants animals could be extinct.
Neopopulism
This is a political philosophy supporting rights and power of the people in their struggle against privilege elite. Worker-owed corporations give the individual sense that they are not working for “the man” but themselves. They state that it not only has environmental but human costs too.
Human costs
Dependecy- developing countries are kept dependent on rich countries for their spare parts.
- Harm, mass productions means indinous product cannot compete.
- Unempolyment- Mass production means less jobs.
It my lead to ecumenic growth but it undermines local communites and they become marginalised from their lifestyles and dependent on government and TNC
Buddhist Economies - Schumacher
Modern economist measures the “standard of living” by the amount of consumption, assuming that the man who consumes more is better off but a buddhist economist, would consider this irrational should be maximum wellbeing with minimum consumption.
Says capitalism values make a fetish of consumption as people try to obtain fulfilment though material goods,
CREATIVITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CONSUMPTION.
Sustainable development
Bruntland report- “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs”
- Environmental sustainability- replanting what used.
- Economic sustainability- Growth needs to be managed to avoids, booms and slumps.
- Social susatianablity- Work should impower not marginalise.
Rejection of modernisation
As they emphasis bringing “high tech” but this can be seen as inappropriate and can have substantial environmental and human costs.
Microcredit
This is a bottom up approach a further strategy devised by counter indust, which aims to support individuals and communities. It provides small loans for individuals who without a bank accounts would not be able. Very low interest rates. It provides a independent route out of poverty which avoids reliance on “handouts” from government or aid.
Vital changes
It has made vital changes the most fundamental is that development cannot be solely measured in economic terms policy makers must consider ecological and social costs.
Focuses on people and communities
Rather than governments-they offer not only route out of poverty but also one which empowers those it helps so bottom up approach not top down. Devloment it done with local people not for them.
Only small improvements
They only be able to bring about small improvements and cannot realistically aim to change the planet. In contrast large theories such as mod operate on government scale.,
Hypocrisy
Environmental they imply that the south should be disallowed from attaining standards of living enjoyed by the rich. And ignores the potential for industrial techniques to evolve and become more ecological neutral.
Neoliberal solulation
See the solution to environment problems in the extension of the free market. Capitalism may have been contributed to environmental problems but it can create solutions such as electric cars.
