La decrescita può dare un contributo nella lotta all'esclusione sociale?

Abstract

In all developed societies of the western world, phenomena of social vulnerability are increasing and the deepening economic crisis of recent years is increasing the loss of traditionally protections and guarantees and the risk of being involved in situations of real social exclusion. The lack of resources has reduced the ability of the welfare system to cope with the worsening of living conditions and increasing numbers of impoverished families. All this is aggravated by the fact that, as shown by a number of empirical studies, the deterioration of material conditions is accompanied by the decline of relations: increase in loneliness, communication difficulties, fear, a sense of isolation, family instability, generation fracture, the decline of solidarity and honesty, leading to a determination in the social climate. The policy of national governments, such as the European Union and other international economic institutions, seeks to respond to these emergencies by implementing measures to boost economic growth in the hope of being able again to finance the welfare state. This paper analyzes whether and how the degrowth theory – viewed not as “negative growth” but as a different wellbeing - can make a contribution to the fight against social vulnerability.