Classical political ideologies Liberalism Is a political system
Classical political ideologies • Liberalism Is a political system that explains how we are governed • • Include central themes of the individual, freedom, reason, justice as well as toleration and diversity Its latest spawn was neoliberalism that rose in the 1970 s • • • Emphasised restrictions of the economy and increased privatisation Lead to increased globalisation • Capitalism Based on the creation of profit Is an economic system that explains how we produce Economic theoretical models based on several “non-real world” assumptions that are applied to the real world • • • The models are mostly built on constant growth (capitalism) A need for migration from exponential growth to sustainable growth or sustainable development
Environmentalism vs. Ecologism Environmentalism • Argues for a managerial approach to environmental problems • • Based on a belief that environmental problems can be solved without fundamental changes in present values or patterns of production and consumption v NB: Problem is that it uses an approach that seeks solutions for the environmental crisis but without fundamentally questioning standard assumptions about the natural world Ecologism • • Based on a belief that a sustainable and fulfilling existence takes as fact radical changes in our relationship with the nonhuman natural world, and in our mode of social and political life
Green Ideology: Ecologism Driven by fear that economic growth threatens both the survival of human and the planet • • A result of intensified industrialisation and urbanisation Lead to establishments of environmental movements such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and WWF It views economics as the enemy of ecology, materialism being a form of intellectual and spiritual corruption that results in an alienation from nature
Categories of Ecologism Shallow ecologism • • • Environmentalists want to achieve their goals within an anthropocentric (human-centred) framework Acknowledges the need to preserve nature but, as a means to sustain human life Deep ecologism • • Deep ecologists propose an ecocentric (nature-centred) approach Advances the more challenging idea that the purpose of human life is to help sustain nature Seen as the real ecologism
Key concepts of ecologism Ecology • Study of the relationship amongst living organisms and their environment to try and achieve a state of harmony or balance It formed part of political terms in 1960 s because it was adopted and used by the growing green movement Ideas about interconnectedness, holism and natural balance that went beyond a mere pressure-group-like concern for the environment • • • Holism • Introduced by Jan Smuts to state that the natural world could only be understood as a whole and not through its individual parts • • Holism implies that understanding is gained by studying relationships between the parts
Key concepts of ecologism Sustainability • • • Considers that both economic growth and the environment are important because resources are limited and therefore it is not possible to pursuit growth forever Important as a guide to human policies and actions for wiser use of resources Environmental ethics • • • Based on the question of our moral obligations towards future generations Looks at approaches that seek to apply moral standards and values developed for human beings to other species and organisms
Key concepts of ecologism Self-actualisation • Based on what do humans strive and live for Has its roots in postmaterialism • • as material affluence spreads, ‘quality of life’ issues and concerns tend to replace material ones, fundamentally changing the political culture and value of industrialised countries Values the need for esteem and self-actualisation higher than material or economic needs
Four pillars of green politics • Ecological responsibility • Grassroots democracy • Social justice • Non-violence
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