Political Friendship and Degrowth: An Ethical Grounding of an Economy of Human Flourishing

This book develops a contemporary account of political friendship and synthesizes it with the degrowth movement, arguing for the need for a re-embracing of a friendly civic ethos and re-aligning the economy with moral objectives. It identifies political friendship with democratic-autonomous political-economic praxis that ensures citizens' self-actualization and nourishes their unconscious substratum, human instinctual sociality. The call for genuine democratic political praxis could enable the degrowth movement to retain its radical character and accomplish the shift to an economy that serves life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a novel and comprehensive account of political friendship, drawing from the radical movement of degrowth. By synthesizing these two perspectives, it provides the ethical grounding and rationale for an alternative economy that aims to serve human flourishing.

In contemporary societies, a significant deficiency exists in the form of Aristotelian political friendship, characterized by active concern for the well-being of others. This lack is particularly evident in the face of ecological destruction and global poverty, highlighting the urgent need for a re-embracing of a friendly civic ethos and a re-alignment of the economy with moral objectives.

The author of this book updates the Aristotelian idea and identifies it with democratic-autonomous political-economic praxis, which ensures citizens' self-actualization. This praxis fosters political friendship by nourishing its unconscious substratum, namely human instinctual sociality. The degrowth movement, which questions economic growth and productivism, aligns with political friendship due to its emphasis on a simpler life with fewer material goods. Political friendship is favored by the degrowth movement because it supports the development of human sociality and the fulfillment of individual and collective potential.

The call for genuine democratic political praxis that political friendship implies could enable the degrowth movement to retain its radical character and accomplish the shift to an economy that serves life. This book is of significant value to students and researchers across social sciences, particularly in the fields of sociology, philosophy, and politics. However, its insights are also relevant to a broader readership interested in social and environmental sustainability. By exploring the relationship between political friendship and degrowth, this book offers a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue about sustainable development and the pursuit of a more just and equitable society.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367757984