A way out of the crisis: Radical Ecological Democracy

In the continuing discussions around Beyond Economics Development Vol 52 no 3 Assistant Editor Laura Fano interviewed Ashish Kothari, founding member of the Indian environmental group Kalpavriksh (www.kalpavriksh.org) and former co-chair of the IUCN Strategic Direction on Governance, Equity and Livelihoods in Relation to Protected Areas.

Click here to read the abstract of Ashish Kothari’s article in Development 52.3.

LF What options does the current global crisis offer in terms of adopting a more ecologically sustainable way of life?

AK The current global crisis comprises of at least three distinct elements: climate change, economic/financial collapse, and the global nature of security threats (or perceptions of these). All of these are at least partly linked to our dependence on fossil fuels, and partly to the short-sighted models of economic growth we have followed in the last few decades. An understanding of these factors could lead us to the basic corrections we need to make towards a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful world including clean and decentralized energy, clean production, renewed emphasis on local economic self-sufficiency and governance on which widening circles of cultural and social links across the globe are built. A large number of alternative ways of organizing the economy, energy and food needs, community living, trade, and so on, are already being practiced around the world, from which we can learn. So far they did not get much attention, but with the multiple crises staring everyone in the face, they are beginning to.

LF India has been heralded as a new model of economic growth. What has this growth implied in terms of environmental damage and the well-being of the poor?

AK It’s completely the wrong model! Since 1950 or so we have followed industrialization as the model (with only a few years in which agriculture was given some priority), and since 1991, economic globalization has been imposed. Economic planning is based on the overarching desire to reach a double digit growth rate, and indicators of progress remain the completely outdated ones of GDP, per capita income, etc. The consequences are dire on the environment and the poor (especially those 400-500 million people directly dependent on natural resources for their day to day lives). Rates of forest diversion, mining, marine resource exploitation, and so on, have gone up markedly, and environmental governance is being loosened with relaxation of a number of legislative measures. A recent national report suggests that we are already consuming twice our carrying capacity. Displacement of people for ‘development’ projects continues unabated, with figures ranging from 30 to 60 million! Inequalities of various kinds have increased, and over half the population still does not have decent civic amenities or full food security.

LF In your article for Development Volume 52.3 , you advocate for a Radical Ecological Democracy to be implemented. What do you mean by such a term and what are the principles that govern it?

AK Radical Ecological Democracy is a system in which everyone has the right and opportunity to participate in key decisions affecting his/her life, and the sensitivity and awareness to know the impacts of these decisions on the environment and fellow humans. Its two fundamental principles are ecological security, which means the sustenance of ecosystems and species, and livelihood security, which means the sustenance of the lives, livelihoods, and cultures of communities most dependent on nature. A number of principles follow from these two, which are elaborated in the paper: respect for diversity and pluralism (biological, cultural, political, economic), emphasis on cooperation and collective working, assurance of rights that are enjoyed with responsibility towards fellow humans and towards other species, dignity of labour, valuing simplicity and frugality over opulence, pursuit of happiness through multiple tangible and intangible ways rather than only material acquisitions, focus on non-violence in our dealings with each other and with non-human nature, and priority to the commons over the private (while not negating personal space).

LF Why, as you suggest, can India play a crucial role in shifting to this new model?

AK India is well-placed to lead or contribute significantly to global paradigm shifts, for several reasons. Despite the dramatic changes in the last two-three decades, a number of traditions that have ecological wisdom built into them survive and are practiced by many communities. But modern science and mindsets are also strong, and a combination of the best in traditional/local with the best in modern/global can be quite revolutionary. Indeed a large number of initiatives on the ground, by civil society and even by government, are already available to learn from, synergize, and build up in scale. India has also shown considerable resilience through many testing centuries of history, which could stand it in good stead to survive the impact of current global crises. A crucial factor will be the deep spirit of civil society action, reflected in the myriad of non-violent movements or class struggles, inspired by Buddha, Gandhi, Marx and many others. These movements of resistance to destructive development and experimentation with alternatives will be the fulcrum of the emerging RED paradigms.

4 October 2009

Written by: Laura

Filed Under: Development, Ecology, Interviews

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About Laura

Laura Fano Morrissey is External Relations Officer at the SID Secretariat in Rome. She is also working on the journal Development as Assistant Editor. Laura graduated in Political Science and holds a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from the University of London. She has worked extensively in the NGO sector, mainly with a focus on Latin America.

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