The Prevailing Growth Fetish and the Post-growth Society

Submitted by Graham Douglas on 13th November 2003

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May I suggest the starting point for this discussion is "Growth Fetish" ( http://www.growthfetish.com/ ) by Dr Clive Hamilton? Here is my snapshot review:- "Trained in economics and politics, Dr Clive Hamilton is Executive Director of The Australia Institute, an independent Australian public interest think tank. For the first time his book clearly analyses the current world-wide fetish for mistakenly equating economic growth with improvement in wellbeing, proposes policy changes and outlines his illuminating view of the "post-growth society". For instance, he states:- "The transition to a post-growth society will be just as far-reaching as the transition from feudalism to industrial capitalism or from industrial capitalism to consumer capitalism. It will fundamentally transform power relationships, social institutions, our relationships with others, our ethical rules, our attitudes to the natural environment and, ultimately, our consciousness." This book demonstrates integrative thinking of a high order and is a welcome change from the plethora of writing that is full of critical thinking about world affairs but does little to suggest a way forward for the growing number of people who feel there is more to life than increased consumption. I believe it is a "must read" for thinkers in all fields everywhere."

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Simon Pople

18 December 2003 - 8:18pm

Very relevant point. Economic growth seems generally to be regarded as a panacea, yet what it can often mean is the increasing, unsustainable use of the planet's resources. The notion of a "post-growth society" is an interesting one; I find it hard to imagine what such a society might look like, but perhaps that it simply a reflection of our current state of consciousness as a whole. I have watched the development of the G20+ group with great interest and hope in the past few months, as I believe that if the developing world can begin to work in co-operation in the interests of a fair trading system, we have the potential to get rid of the current subsidy-heavy, globally deliberately unequal system that EU and US governments are so bent upon maintaining, but perhaps there is a step even beyond this, to a new paradigm based perhaps on international co-operation for the overall, rather than just economic, good of all.

kenrichard2002

6 January 2004 - 12:39am

The author must be aware of the fact that these days peaceful, symbolic protest on this nations ports are met with rubber bullets, pepper spray and wooden dowls fired from rifles at those protesting.