The French philosopher and economist Serge Latouche published his book “The Degrowth Gamble” more than two decades ago. How to escape from the dominant imagination? (Icaria, 2008) in which he demanded real changes in the face of the risk of collapse due to hyperconsumption. With a vision which for some will be illusory and for others the harsh reality, he was the first to use this concept to question the fact that the values on which growth and development are based, and especially progress, do not do not correspond at all to universal aspirations. . deep.
“Unfortunately, neither the economic and financial crisis nor the depletion of oil necessarily means the end of capitalism, or even of the growth society. Degrowth is only possible in a “degrowth society”, that is to say within the framework of a system which is based on another logic. The alternative is therefore in fact: degrowth or barbarism! “, he argued in an interview. He added that as resources become scarcer, the value of certain products will continue to increase and, as a result, capitalism will grow at the expense of society and greater inequality. Does this sound familiar?
