Browsing by Autor "Miriam Lang"

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Buen vivir as a territorial practice. Building a more just and sustainable life through interculturality
(2022) Miriam Lang
Commoning Care: Feminist Degrowth Visions for a Socio-Ecological Transformation
(2021) Corinna Dengler; Miriam Lang
This paper addresses the question of how to organize care in degrowth societies that call for social and ecological sustainability, as well as gender and environmental justice, without prioritizing one over the other. By building on degrowth scholarship, feminist economics, the commons, and decolonial feminisms, we rebut the strategy of shifting yet more unpaid care work to the monetized economy, thereby reinforcing the separation structure in economics. A feminist degrowth imaginary implies destabilizing prevalent dichotomies and overcoming the (inherent hierarchization in the) boundary between the monetized economy and the invisibilized economy of socio-ecological provisioning. The paper proposes an incremental, emancipatory decommodification and a commonization of care in a sphere beyond the public/private divide, namely the sphere of communitarian and transformative caring commons, as they persist at the margins of capitalism and are (re-)created by social movements around the world.HIGHLIGHTS Degrowth aims at creating human flourishing within planetary boundaries.As feminist degrowth scholarship, this study discusses degrowth visions for care work.It problematizes the shifting of yet more unpaid care work to the monetized economy.Instead, it proposes collective (re)organization in the sphere of the commons.Caring commons are no automatism for a gender-just redistribution of care work.
De los límites planetarios a los límites sociales: Un argumento a favor de la autolimitación definida colectivamente
(2024) Miriam Lang; et al.
El concepto de límites planetarios ha cambiado radicalmente el vocabulario y la representación de los asuntos ambientales globales. Aquí aportamos una perspectiva crítica desde las ciencias sociales a este marco, a través de la noción de límites sociales. Nuestro objetivo es permitir una comprensión más matizada de la naturaleza social de los límites. Comenzamos destacando las fortalezas y debilidades de la perspectiva de límites planetarios desde la mirada de las ciencias sociales. Luego nos enfocamos en las sociedades capitalistas como una heurística para discutir sus dinámicas expansivas, las relaciones de poder y los obstáculos generados desde las sociedades modernas, que impulsan relaciones sociales altamente insostenibles con la naturaleza. Si bien formular límites sociales implica un proceso polémico, basado en juicios normativos, preocupaciones éticas y luchas sociopolíticas, tiene también el potencial de ofrecer pautas para una transformación socioecológica justa. La autonomía colectiva y las políticas de autolimitación son elementos clave de los límites sociales y se relacionan con propuestas importantes y experiencias pluriversales que integran el bienestar y los límites. El papel del Estado y las propuestas radicales de enfoques alternativos respecto del bienestar son particularmente importantes. Concluimos con reflexiones sobre la libertad social, definida como el derecho a no vivir a expensas de los demás. Con el objetivo de avanzar hacia la definición de estos límites a través de procesos transdisciplinarios y democráticos, con este artículo buscamos abrir el diálogo sobre estos temas. Palabras clave: Límites planetarios; Límites sociales; Capitalismo; Transformaciones socioecológicas; Autolimitación; Ciencias Sociales críticas. From planetary boundaries to social boundaries: An argument for collectively defined self-limitation Abstract The concept of planetary boundaries has radically changed the vocabulary and representation of global environmental issues. Here we bring a critical social science perspective to this framework through the notion of social boundaries. Our aim is to enable a more nuanced understanding of the social nature of boundaries. We begin by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the planetary boundaries perspective from a social science perspective. We then focus on capitalist societies as a heuristic to discuss their expansive dynamics, power relations and obstacles generated from modern societies, which drive highly unsustainable social relations with nature. While formulating social limits implies a contentious process, based on normative judgments, ethical concerns and socio-political struggles, it also has the potential to offer guidelines for a just socio-ecological transformation. Collective autonomy and the politics of self-limitation are key elements of social boundaries and relate to important proposals and pluriversal experiences that integrate well-being and boundaries. The role of the state and radical proposals for alternative approaches to welfare are particularly important. We conclude with reflections on social freedom, defined as the right not to live at the expense of others. With the aim of advancing towards the definition of these limits through transdisciplinary and democratic processes, this article seeks to open a dialogue on these issues. Keywords: Planetary boundaries; Social boundaries; Capitalism; Social-ecological transformations; Self-limitation; Critical Social Sciences. Dos limites planetários aos limites sociais: Um argumento a favor da auto-limitação definida coletivamente Resumo O conceito de limites planetários mudou radicalmente o vocabulário e a representação das questões ambientais globais. Aqui trazemos uma perspectiva crítica das ciências sociais para este quadro através da noção de limites sociais. O nosso objetivo é possibilitar uma compreensão mais matizada da natureza social dos limites. Começamos por destacar os pontos fortes e fracos da perspectiva dos limites planetários a partir de uma perspectiva das ciências sociais. Em seguida, centramo-nos nas sociedades capitalistas como uma heurística para discutir a sua dinâmica expansiva, as relações de poder e os obstáculos gerados pelas sociedades modernas, que conduzem a relações sociais altamente insustentáveis com a natureza. Embora a formulação de limites sociais implique um processo contencioso, baseado em julgamentos normativos, preocupações éticas e lutas sociopolíticas, tem também o potencial de oferecer diretrizes para uma transformação socioecológica justa. A autonomia coletiva e a política de autolimitação são elementos-chave das fronteiras sociais e relacionam-se com propostas importantes e experiências pluriversais que integram bem-estar e limites. O papel do Estado e as propostas radicais de abordagens alternativas ao bem-estar são particularmente importantes. Concluímos com reflexões sobre a liberdade social, definida como o direito de não viver à custa dos outros. Com o objetivo de avançar para a definição desses limites através de processos transdisciplinares e democráticos, este artigo procura abrir um diálogo sobre estas questões. Palavras-chave: Limites planetários; Limites sociais; Capitalismo; Transformações socio-ecológicas; Autolimitação; Ciências Sociais críticas.
Degrowth, global asymmetries, and ecosocial justice: Decolonial perspectives from Latin America
(Cambridge University Press, 2024) Miriam Lang
Abstract Degrowth literature predominantly states that degrowth strategies are meant from and for the Global North. While economic mainstream discourse suggests that the Global South still has to grow in terms of achieving development, degrowth proponents expect a reduction of material and energy throughput in the Global North to make ecological and conceptual space for the Global South to find its own paths toward ecosocial transformation. Based on a Latin American post-development and post-extractivist perspective and drawing on dependency theory, this article suggests another approach: first, it argues that the growth imperative, which in the peripheral world translates into the imperative to develop, also causes harm in societies of the Global South. Throughout Latin America, in the last decades, economic growth has mainly been achieved through extractivism with negative impacts, which are now being pushed further by green growth strategies. Second, I explore some possibilities for a cross-fertilisation between degrowth and International Relations scholarship, calling into question the assumption that degrowth in high-income countries would automatically ‘make space’ for the Global South to engage in self-determined paths of ecosocial transformation, as long as the structures, institutions, and rules of global governance and trade which secure profoundly asymmetric, colonial relations are not challenged.
Den globalen Süden mitdenken!
(2017) Miriam Lang
Against the background of the severest migration crisis in history, which is only one dimension of a broader civilizatory crisis, this article argues that antiracist movements should not focus solely on issues of human mobility rights, but build new paths of solidarity with societies in the geopolitical Global South. Problematizing the dominant notions of what really is a good life, thinking social welfare globally and linking up with movements like ecofeminism or degrowth could not only open new possibilities to address the fears of social relegation through immigration in the Global North; it also would make possible a new internationalism, where people of the North and the South cooperate to overcome the current colonial division of Nature and labour and what has been called the imperial mode of living.
Entre sumak kawsay y modernización selectiva*
(Center for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, 2022) Miriam Lang
Resumen: Este artculo discute la nocin de pluriverso a partir de un estudio de caso en el cantn Cayambe, en los Andes ecuatorianos. Analiza como la primera administracin municipal indgena en la historia del cantn (2014-2019) ha operado para impulsar una territorialidad que evoluciona hacia el sumak kawsay, o buen vivir en lengua kichwa, y cmo la plurinacionalidad y la interculturalidad fueron condiciones habilitantes para ello. Partiendo de la nocin de ecologa de saberes y prcticas en el pluriverso, muestra cmo los y las protagonistas de este proceso, en su mayora indgenas, desafiaron la modernidad antropocntrica, a la vez que usaron o resignificaron algunas de sus herramientas o principios para sus propios fines.
Neo-Extractivism in Latin America – one side of a new phase of global capitalist dynamics
(2016) Ulrich Brand; Kristina Dietz; Miriam Lang
The aim of this text is to make sense of the emerging political-institutional, territorial, and socio-ecological dynamics and contradictions of neo-extractivism in Latin America in the context of global capitalist development. In contrast to some existing literature, we argue that the term ‘neo-extractivism’ should not be restricted to countries with progressive governments but be applied to all Latin American societies that, since the 1970s and especially since the year 2000, depend predominantly on the exploitation and exportation of nature. We argue that the often vague usage of the term neo-extractivism can be strengthened when it is seen in line with dominant development models. Therefore we refer to regulation theory and its historical heuristic of different phases of capitalist development. This enables us to look at the temporal-spatial interdependencies between shifting socio-economic and technological developments, world market structures, and political-institutional configurations that characterize neo-extractivism across scales and beyond national borders.
Pathways to decolonize North-South relations around energy transition
(2023) Miriam Lang
Climate coloniality manifests in the violent appropriation of territories in the Global South, including the extraction of strategic minerals such as copper and molybdenum to service energy transition and green growth for the major world powers. Peasant communities in the Intag river valley in Ecuador have been resisting large-scale mining for decades and, thus, have built up a local solidarity economy as a livelihood alternative. This includes communitarian hydropower projects at different scales, which are designed not only to provide families with extra income or jobs but also to build virtuous circles that avoid deforestation, protect biodiversity, and strengthen relations in all their dimensions: within communities, with nature, and with organized actors in the Global North who recognize and wish to cancel their climate debt.
Simulación e irresponsabilidad: el ‘desarrollo’ frente a la crisis civilizatoria. Miradas críticas desde los feminismos y el pensamiento decolonial sobre los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sustentable y la erradicación de la pobreza
(2021) Miriam Lang
Este artículo analiza de qué manera la institucionalidad internacional del ‘desarrollo’, a través de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sustentable y las políticas de erradicación de la pobreza global, ha respondido a la crisis del patrón civilizatorio moderno-occidental cuyos síntomas más visibles son el cambio climático y la extinción de especies. Desde una perspectiva crítica que se nutre tanto de los feminismos del Sur como del pensamiento decolonial, se muestran la continuidad y centralidad de lógicas patriarcales, coloniales y de clase que subyacen a la Agenda 2030 de Naciones Unidas y configuran el discurso hegemónico alrededor del ‘desarrollo’ en el siglo XXI. Asimismo, se analizan algunas de sus consecuencias específicas para las mujeres del Sur Global, quienes se movilizan en los últimos años en defensa del sostenimiento de la vida y se explora si esta Agenda plantea efectivamente un cambio de paradigma, como lo sugieren algunos autores, o si, en cambio, constituye más bien un ejercicio de simulación de soluciones que incita a la irresponsabilidad ante los problemas apremiantes que enfrenta la humanidad.