Austerity: An environmentally dangerous idea (original) (raw)
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2021
This chapter focuses on how the environment was mobilised in subaltern struggles against the normalisation of austerity and “neoliberal natures” during and after the 2008 economic crisis in Greece. We ground our analysis on three grassroots environmental movements that emerged as a response to austerity measures: the national “no-middlemen” solidarity food distribution network (2012-2015); the local anti-mining movement in Halkidiki, northern Greece (2011 onwards); and the national movement against new onshore and offshore hydrocarbon explorations (2015 onwards). Using a Gramscian political ecology framework, our analysis shows that by reciprocally combining anti-austerity politics and alternative ways of understanding and mobilizing “environmental” discourses, all three movements successfully challenged the reproduction of uneven society environment relations that had been exacerbated by the austerity agenda and the intensification of neoliberal practices in the country.
Capitalism Nature Socialism, 2016
The paper focuses on two largely understudied and interrelated aspects of the post-2008 economic crisis: how the politics of austerity influences the dynamics of environmental conflict, and how the environment is mobilized in subalterns' struggles against the normalization of austerity as the hegemonic response to crisis. We ground our analysis on two grassroots conflicts in Greece: the "nomiddlemen" solidarity food distribution networks (across Greece), and the movement against gold mining in Halkidiki (Northern Greece). Using a Gramscian political ecology framework, our analysis shows that by reciprocally combining anti-austerity politics and alternative ways of understanding and using "nature", both projects challenge the reproduction of uneven society-environment relations exacerbated by the neoliberal austerity agenda. Keywords: austerity, philosophy of praxis, socio-environmental conflicts 1. Introduction Defined by Harvey (2011, 85-86) as a class politics for re-engineering society and privately appropriating the commons, austerity has become the main response from the part of capital and state institutions to the post-2008 crisis of late neoliberalism. Despite a wealth of analysis suggesting that austerity measures accentuate rather than repair socioeconomic problems under conditions of crisis (e.g. Krugman 2009), policies of budgetary discipline "to reduce workers' salaries, rights and social benefits" (Douzinas 2013, 28) prevail. A growing body of academic literature has focused on examining the disastrous and uneven socioeconomic impacts of austerity (e.g.
The paper focuses on two largely understudied and interrelated aspects of the post-2008 economic crisis: how the politics of austerity influences the dynamics of environmental conflict and how the environment is mobilized in subaltern struggles against the normalization of austerity as the hegemonic response to crisis. We ground our analysis on two grassroots conflicts in Greece: the “nomiddlemen” solidarity food distribution networks (across Greece) and the movement against gold mining in Halkidiki (northern Greece). Using a Gramscian political ecology framework, our analysis shows that by reciprocally combining anti-austerity politics and alternative ways of understanding and using “nature,” both projects challenge the reproduction of uneven society–environment relations exacerbated by the neoliberal austerity agenda.
The effects of recent austerity on environmental protection decisions
Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish the evidence for, the why and how recent austerity policy atmosphere associated with the UK government affected environmental protection decisions within planning in Scotland. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative analysis based on perspectives gathered via questionnaire survey targeted at stakeholders involved in planning in Scotland was undertaken. The questionnaire responses were analysed thematically, supplemented by using statistical tests of significance and variance to show how responses differed across participants. Findings The evidence showed that austerity policy atmosphere resulted in a pervasive neoliberal imperative of resuscitating the economy; whilst producing subtle and adverse effects on environmental decisions. This was best understood within a neo-Gramscian perspective of hegemony, borrowed from the field of political economy of states. Research limitations/implications The gathered views were constrained with...
Austerity, Welfare State and Eco-Socialism; With special reference to the UK
In the clash between austerity and Keynesian stimulus paradigms in the advanced capitalist economies in general and the United Kingdom in particular, this paper argues that in the era of global climate change and global warming, merely proposing stimulus in opposition to austerity is flawed. In contrast, the paper proposes that an eco-socialist perspective with emphasis on green economy, sustainability and equality is of historic importance and relevance.
Environmental crises and the ambiguous postneoliberalising of nature 1
2009
During the last few decades of the neoliberal-imperial globalisation process, social relations have been fundamentally transformed. Neoliberalism was never a purely market-driven process but also a shaping of other social relations and institutions, especially of the state. The state, private corporations, public discourses but also many aspects of everyday life were reoriented towards economic effi ciency and international competitiveness. Aspects such as (re-) distribution or social and/or international solidarity played scarcely any role. As these societal changes have occurred, the appropriation of nature has also been transformed. Dimensions of nature that were previously of little interest were now becoming (potentially) valuable resources to be assessed for their value and incorporated into the capitalist accumulation process. Neoliberalism was and is also an ecological project – that is, a project to transform societal appropriation of nature or societal relationships with n...
Austerity, Welfare State and Eco-Socialism:With special reference to the United Kingdom
Economic and political weekly
In the clash between austerity and Keynesian stimulus paradigms in the advanced capitalist economies in general and the United Kingdom in particular, this paper argues that in the era of global climate change and global warming, merely proposing stimulus in opposition to austerity is flawed. In contrast, the paper proposes that an eco-socialist perspective with emphasis on green economy, sustainability and equality is of historic importance and relevance.
Environmental crises and the ambiguous postneoliberalising of nature
Postneoliberalism. A beginning debate. Development …, 2009
During the last few decades of the neoliberal-imperial globalisation process, social relations have been fundamentally transformed. Neoliberalism was never a purely market-driven process but also a shaping of other social relations and institutions, especially of the state. ...