Life After Progress: Technology, Community and the New Economy

An anthology of essays by Local Futures challenges the narrative that technological progress and an increasingly globalized economy will lead us to a better world. It suggests that we need to rethink our assumptions about progress, poverty, and happiness and take strategic steps to confront our crises and bring a healthier, happier world into being.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 23 March 2023
Publisher: Local Futures

From a renowned pioneer of the localization movement, an anthology of essays challenging the narrative that technological progress and an increasingly globalized economy will lead us to a better world.

This collection of essays has been selected from 30 years of published articles, book chapters, and blog posts by the staff of Local Futures, internationally known as pioneers of the emerging localization movement. Some of these writings involve a fundamental rethinking of our most basic assumptions—about progress, poverty, and happiness—while others seek the root causes of our multiple crises, from climate change and income inequality to the erosion of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism. All of them point towards the most strategic steps we can take to confront these problems and bring a healthier, happier world into being.

Several of these prescient essays were written decades ago, but they have become even more relevant today as our crises deepen, and the need for systemic change becomes more apparent.

The editors of this anthology have organized the essays into four sections:

The first section, "The Case for Localization," explores the benefits of localizing economic and political systems, including greater resilience, sustainability, and equity. It also highlights the challenges of globalization, such as the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few, the erosion of local cultures and traditions, and the environmental and social costs of mass production and consumption.

The second section, "The Roots of Our Crises," examines the underlying causes of our current crises, including the growth of capitalism, the expansion of the global economy, and the dominance of Western cultural and political systems. It also explores the role of institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations in perpetuating these crises and promoting a narrow vision of development that prioritizes economic growth over social and environmental well-being.

The third section, "Strategies for Change," offers practical solutions for addressing our crises, including promoting local food systems, renewable energy, and community-based economic development. It also emphasizes the importance of building strong local institutions, such as community banks, cooperatives, and social enterprises, and promoting citizen engagement and participation in decision-making processes.

The fourth section, "The Future of Localization," looks ahead to the potential for localization to become a more mainstream movement and to play a significant role in shaping a more sustainable and equitable world. It includes essays by leading thinkers.
localization advocates, policymakers, and researchers, who offer insights into the challenges and opportunities of building a more localized future.

In conclusion, this anthology of essays provides a powerful and compelling argument for the need to move towards a more localized and sustainable future. It challenges us to rethink our most basic assumptions about progress, poverty, and happiness and to take action to address the root causes of our multiple crises. By promoting local food systems, renewable energy, and community-based economic development, by building strong local institutions, and by promoting citizen engagement and participation in decision-making processes, we can create a healthier, happier world for ourselves and future generations.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781732980419