(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #251 - Ideas: The
precursors of the decay (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
Since 2013, editions "the rider" opened a collection edited by the economist Serge
Latouche, entitled "The precursors of the decay." This editorial initiative aims to
promote an alternative history of ideas, and to highlight the richness of the concept of
"degrowth" as well as its potential genealogy (Epicurus Lewis Mumford via Lao Tzu or Jean
Giono). ---- We can illustrate the value of this collection by studying two titles to
contemporary thinkers and can challenge the libertarian positions: one on Jacques Ellul,
the other on Murray Bookchin. Both works, very concise, divided into two parts: the first
discusses the relationship between the thought of the author and presented the theory of
decay; one second restores some significant excerpts from authors texts.
For Serge Latouche, several themes developed by Ellul in line with those of the decrease.
For example, the idea that a strong reduction in working time would be a solution to many
socio-economic disruptions, or the denunciation of "disvaleur" (under the influence of
Ivan Illich), the "GDP fetishism" and "colonization of the imagination by technology and
drug addiction to consumption". In the eyes of Latouche, Ellul on the influence of the
decrease can be limited by some of its positions, including the concealment of social and
political factors in favor of pure "technician totalitarianism".
The second part of the book presents various extracts of his texts: articles, books,
interviews, which thoroughly illustrate the first part, and reflect both Ellul commitments
in the news of his time, and fertility analysis he could make. The other book presents the
American Murray Bookchin, still unknown because few translated and quite radical: it is
fairly close to Marxism, while moving towards libertarian positions and environmentalists.
His theory of "social ecology" in particular considers that "environmental disasters are
rooted in social injustice, resulting themselves of various forms of domination." It
develops a critical sense of loss generated by the consumer society, and could therefore
be considered as a supporter of the decrease condition to hear it as a global opposition
to capitalism, in the continuity of Marxist and anarchist thoughts.
Bookchin conceives indeed a theory of "libertarian municipalism" influenced eg by
Kropotkin. This radical redistribution of political power would be based on popular
neighborhood assemblies, in dialogue with federations of municipalities. This
decentralization would include environmental benefits but also in terms of socialization.
The second part of the book offers rich book excerpts Bookchin, who analyze with great
creativity critical social domination systems generated by the evolution of capitalism,
putting the ecological requirements slightly recessed behind the need for emancipation
human, social, collective. Jonathan Louli independent sociologist and social worker in the
Paris suburbs
? Jacques Ellul, Serge Latouche, Jacques Ellul against the technician totalitarianism ,
2013, Editions the stowaway Collection "decreasing the precursors," 112 pages, 8 euros.
? Murray Bookchin, Gerber Vincent Romero Floreal, Murray Bookchin for social and radical
ecology , 2014, Editions the stowaway Collection "decreasing the precursors", 96 pages, 8
euros.
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Idees-Les-precurseurs-de-la
