DegrowthUK6d ago

Degrowth and socialist comrades, what should we be doing?

Ted Trainer* This is an attempt to clarify this discussion of degrowth strategy, a topic on which I think there is considerable confusion and mistaken approaches. Debate has recently been fuelled by Jason Hickel’s argument for a socialist position on both the goal and the means do it for degrowth. Liegey, Nelson and Leahy replied against Jason, defending the wide and diverse range of strategies now…

https://degrowthuk.org/2026/03/16/degrowth-and-socialist-comrades-what-should-we-be-doing/

Degrowth and socialist comrades, what should we be doing?

Ted Trainer* This is an attempt to clarify this discussion of degrowth strategy, a topic on which I think there is considerable confusion and mistaken approaches. Debate has recently been fuelled b…

degrowthUK
Show threadMike Taylor 🦕6d ago
@degrowthuk If I can comment from the outside? I think you desperately need to rebrand. The term "degrowth" turns people off, because the first thing they think when they see it is that it means they'll lose all their stuff. Find a more appealing word. Hope this helps.
Show threadDegrowthUK
@mike
Thanks but No.
Degrowth- accurately names the key problem. It's what's been called a " missile word", taking aim at the endless accumulation that underpins the ecological overshoot and fast approaching tipping points.
However, it isn't always appropriate to use it
Here are 2 examples from us of degrowth- consistent interventions that use other labels so to not frighten the horses:
https://gettingreal.org.uk/
and https://steadystatemanchester.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/the-viable-economy-revision-for-2nd-edn-v2.4-final.pdf
Communication is situation-specific.
Getting Real about the Crises Facing the UK | Stop the Damage! Build a Better Future!

Britain and the rest of the world face a set of almost intractable challenges, ecological (including climate), economic and social. Yet political leaders with few exceptions are failing to propose the actions and policies that could address the scale of this pancrisis. Here though is an alternative initiative, a kind of alternative manifesto with a portfolio of illustrative policies...

Getting Real about the Crises Facing the UK
Mar 16 at 1:41pmWeb