Roots Before Branches:- Local Steps for a Better Future
The last 20–30 years have been extraordinary, whether or not people like to admit it. Our world has changed in ways, we couldn’t have imagined in our wildest dreams. Since the “hyper globalization” of the 1990s, free trade, export markets, air transport, Information Technology, and Multi-Lateralism have transformed the world economically and socially in ways unfathomable. Until then most economists agreed that “Globalization” was indeed the best and most efficient way to a better future. Open borders, free movement of people, goods, services, popular culture, dreams, and aspirations. What could go wrong?
Since 2016 there has been a rising tide of nativism, populism, and nationalism around the world. Rising inequality, social unrest, and perceived neglect of the masses by seemingly large and impersonal institutions have challenged the foundations of a long-held global consensus. A worldwide plague just exposed the ineffectiveness of this consensus; organizations like WHO (World Health Organization) and the world’s most powerful countries have all failed to curb a virus that infected millions and brought them to their knees.
Simply put, global governance has failed. For that matter, modern governance, on the whole, has failed or struggled to respond to the needs of populations whose needs have become ever more complex. There is a fundamental need to decentralize global governance and strengthen local governance. This is not a new concept. Interestingly enough, opponents of globalization and proponents of globalization would agree in their desire for a more equitable society, with more power to people and less control by a centralized bureaucracy. This has been a sentiment echoed through history by various figures; Henry David Thoreau, whose 1854 work “Walden” advocated a simple, self-reliant and independent life bereft of external interference. Russian Anarcho-Communist Peter Kropotkin in his “Conquest of Bread” advocated for decentralized societies sustained by “mutual aid”, “voluntary associations” and “self-governance”. Libertarian values on the far right, too it would seem to reject interference by big government, as conveyed by 19th century English Darwinian philosopher Herbert Spencer who once said that the individual had the “right to ignore the state”. The time has come to fundamentally re-build governance as we know it today, and make it more tuned to citizens’ needs.
In this article, I will put aside some tips on how we can ideally re-organize the way we:- -i) Produce & Consume Resources 2) Build Institutions 3) Conduct Cultural Life 4) Interact with the Bio-Sphere. The 4 are closely linked and make up the society we live in.
Production & Consumption
Globalization has created complex supply chains where commodities have to be brought in from distant places and consumed in others and vice-versa. These have created complex dependencies that have not only harmed the planet irrevocably but also widened inequality and made it vulnerable to external shocks. The best way to counter complex global dependencies is by building strong local self-sufficiency. Building strong self-sufficiency can only be done if citizens at every level of civil and local society are involved. Local Self-Sufficiency can be achieved in the following way:-
Transition to “Circular Economy”:- Our present economic system is based on a “linear model”. This is based on using raw materials, manufacturing, processing, and later disposing of them. This model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy. Many of these products cannot be easily reused, repaired, or recycled, or are made for single use only. Half of total greenhouse gas emissions and more than 90% of biodiversity owing to resource extraction and processing. By 2050 the number of plastics in the world’s oceans could reach more than 900 million tons. The Circular Economy on the other hand is one in which involves “sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. The circular economy is applicable across many sectors, including Agriculture, Textile, and construction. For example, in agriculture, this may include permaculture, organic farming, urban farming, community farming, rooftop gardens, and integrated watershed management. In textiles, the clothing companies Patagonia and Villa Fisher source 70- 90% of their clothing from recycled and organic material.
At its heart, the Circular Economy is a fundamentally local one; simply because resources can only be replenished if links between their production and consumption are established at the grass-roots level. An exemplary example of the circular economy becoming mainstream is the “Transition Towns” network; a group of 2000 to 3000 communities in Europe and North America that aim to increase self-sufficiency in order to reduce the potential effects of peak oil climate destruction, and economic instability. Founded in 2006, the cities have built their communities around their shared sustainable practices of local food production, energy offsetting plans, sustainable transportation, and waste recycling. Now, even the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19 has recognized the importance of sustainable and secure production; the “Farm to Fork Strategy” is at the heart of the European Green New Deal aiming to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally-friendly. In its action plan to make agriculture sustainable the EU has emphasized the importance of the “circular bio-based economy”
Political & Social Institutions
Civil Society & Local Governance
Much of sustainable development in recent times has been driven by centralized institutions and bureaucracies with a top-down approach towards bringing change. However, history largely points to the role of civil and citizen participation in political and social change. The “economics of communes” have a lot to say in the matter. Communes are defined as an “intentional group of people sharing living spaces, interests, values, beliefs, and often property, possessions, and resources in common. Dating back to the 19th century, there are more hundreds of communes globally, largely based on consensual-decision making, decentralized leadership and communal finances, and fiscal localism. Examples include autonomous communities like Rojava in Northeast Syria as well as cooperatives and experimental townships.
The devolution of power to local bodies such as councils, parishes, municipalities, and civil society is a major step towards social sustainability. Not only does it promote greater transparency and accountability, but it also places decision-making in the hands of local citizens. Time and again remote and impoverished regions in different parts of the world have exemplified how societies can develop through effective local governance. In 1975, in rural India, a local leader, motivated a group of locals to turn their drought-afflicted village, into a prosperous town. This was done through an effective community organization and local governance framework centered on a shared commitment to Natural Resources Management. He mobilized the local community to take care of their local resources by strengthening local councils, building an effective cooperative management system (to pool funds), and socializing local members to take ownership of their resources. The resulting success served as a role model to thousands of other villages throughout the nation. The City of Curitiba, Brazil is lauded as an exemplar of sustainable urban development globally. However, the city’s rise to success could not have been possible had it not been for the local municipality’s engagement with citizens when it came to making the city pedestrian-friendly, recycling waste, and greening the city.
Co-operatives & Social Enterprises
In 2013, the world’s top 300 coo-operatives were worth almost 2.097 Trillion dollars according to the World Co-operative Monitor. A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned enterprise”. Cooperatives are owned by their members, with each member having the right to elect a board of directors and are characterized by voluntary and open membership, democratic participation, autonomy and independence, and concern for the community. Profits are distributed amongst members based on the degree of participation and profits made as opposed to capital investment. Cooperatives also tend to invest a larger proportion of their profits in the local community as opposed to regular enterprises. This holds major implications for the possible ways in which we need to organize business in the future. For a long time, mankind has struggled with the tension between individual liberty and societal control. The Co-operative represents an attempt at self-organization and enterprise that benefits the individual and his close interests, while also giving back to the community. The Co-op model ensures that the common citizen has a direct stake in the business life and that they profit from the benefits of economic membership. This stands in stark contrast to the modern-day business corporation whose shareholders and investors seem to distinct from those who work in it.
A similar undertaking would be Micro-Finance and Social Enterprises whose goals lie beyond mere profit but also giving back to the local community. When first established in Bangladesh, Micro-Finance Bank loans to small-scale entrepreneurs, especially owners of SME’s (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) has helped boost business eco-systems throughout the world and help revitalize enterprising individuals from local communities. Such models would go a long way in helping local communities.
Cultural Life
Local Heritage is intrinsic to Sustainable Development. In line with SDG Goal 11 (Sustainable Development Goals), UNESCO has recognized the importance of “inclusive, safe and resilient societies” by placing “Culture at the Heart of Sustainable Development Policies” in the Hangzhou Declaration 2015. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) created in 2004 is an agreement that promotes cooperation with and among cities that have identified culture as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. Culture often represents a response to local environmental conditions as well as how human beings have co-adapted to those conditions.
As someone working in the field of culture, firsthand, I have witnessed this co-dependence. My experience participating in making my local city Hyderabad, India part of the UNESCO Creative City, while working with the local government has made me realize the importance of local culture in promoting sustainable development. The city’s strong Islamic Heritage has manifested in a culture of Bazaars (Markets) and local shops creating a close-knit and united community whose cooperation makes for an ideal environment for social inclusion. Many dry regions of India often rely on centuries-old “stepwells” or traditional reservoirs to store water during the dry season. These structures often have religious and spiritual importance. My experience in helping local communities restore these ancient structures and witnessing the great benefits it has yielded to the communities, besides renewing their pride has made me understand the great importance that local culture holds in the journey towards sustainability. The example extends across various spectrums; Coastal & Marine Settlements in Southeast Asia, Highlands in Bolivia, Oasis Towns in the middle-east all represent a cultural fabric that has developed from a shared response to environmental conditions.
Whereas tangible heritage represents a physical response to environmental conditions, intangible traditions represent social practices, traditions, and knowledge that bring a community together. This may include charity, gift-giving, festivals, and local knowledge of herbs, concoctions, and medicinal treatments. Intangible heritage besides being a strong source of unity also can mobilize local responses suited to tackle challenges of that particular region. To give a couple of examples Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and local spices and food prepared by tribes in remote regions such as the Amazon Rainforest, or the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.
Interactions with the Biosphere
A very powerful concept in environmental sustainability is the concept of “Environmental Stewardship”. It refers to the “responsible planning and management of environment and resources through a system of collaboration and natural resource management that respects ecosystem functions”. The concept of stewardship puts the onus of resource conservation in the hands of local “stewards” in charge of communities. The concept is a solution to the “Tragedy of the Commons” problem where individual users, who have open access to a resource unimpeded by social structures or formal rules that regulate the access and use, act independently according to their self-interest and, contrary to the common good of their communities.
A classic example of this concept put in action is that of the “Payments for Ecosystem Services” (PES) system. The most successful case of this being implemented was in Costa Rica in Central America. The program involved providing private landowners especially forest lands with financial incentives derived from government, private and international public donors, in exchange for protecting and improving ecosystem services in the form of forest protection, commercial reforestation, agroforestry, sustainable forest management, and regeneration of degraded areas. As a result, the country doubled its forest cover in 30 years to 51% of its land area and prevented 11 million tons of carbon emissions from being released over 10 years. The program addressed an environmental concern by collecting taxes from polluters and by channeling them to agents protecting the environment. In this manner, beneficiaries of environmental services, which over here includes the country and its public at large rewarded former polluters to become protectors instead of local resources.
The PES system exemplifies a system of stewardship where local individuals become “stewards” of local resources and help in the upkeep of common resources. The concept of “Stewardship” on the whole is particularly important because it provides major cues on how to manage land and resources, especially at a time of growing scarcity and degradation. It shows how local leaders can be put in charge of managing resources, that their communities are direct beneficiaries of.
For now, the concept of stewardship is mainly seen in countries with a large eco-tourism industry, Examples include, Peru, Cambodia, the Philippines, Kenya, Iceland, and New Zealand to name a few. Eco-Tourism is often seen as a way to promote ecologically responsible tourism while conserving local resources and livelihoods of people. While admirable in its mission and scope, its applications are relevant beyond tourism and can be effectively applied in other domains as well including sustainable economics, production, consumption, and management of common resources.
If the history of social change has proven one thing, it is that nothing can stop a group of committed citizens and communities from taking charge of local affairs having a direct impact on their lives. In 1768 a small and poor group of English migrants in North America living in self-governing communities revolted against their masters in Europe who refused to acknowledge their right to have a voice in the governing process. These people were neither educated nor powerful. They instead formed “Provincial Congresses” consisting of elected individuals from the community and demanded that unless they were represented in British Parliament no taxes could be imposed on them (“No taxation without representation”). This then grew into what we now know as the American Revolution. The history of Universal Adult Suffrage and Women’s Rights also shows the power of self-organization, self-governance, and social participation in political life.
As is the case with most pivotal changes through history, local participation and ownership of the governance process changed the destiny of entire generations. Any move in reversing current ways of living is not a rebellion against progress but a re-evaluation of it. This was the case, in the peasant revolts of the late 14th century when medieval European peasants revolted against their feudal lords, paving way for the European Renaissance or when co-operatives and labor unions protested unfair working conditions during the industrial revolution. Most major social changes are also accompanied by parallel changes in patterns of production and consumption. This was the case when it came to the 19th century Anti-Trust Laws in Gilded Age America passed against large oligopolies, driven in part by citizen drive activism. Our world today faces multiple threats including that of depleting resources, social and political unrest, pollution, environmental degradation, and climate change. Current patterns of production, consumption, and governance not only harm the planet but also widened economic and social divisions in unprecedented ways.
This piece which argued for more sustainable economics, stronger local participation, and greater environmental and cultural localism is not an attempt to discount the benefits of globalized society as we know it but rather steer it on a path where its progress does not become the source of its undoing. At its core, progress has always laid at the heart of the human endeavor, and if anything history has shown how ills that have plagued the human condition such as war, disease, inequality, oppression, and violence have always been confronted in diverse ways throughout. In overcoming obstacles over time, every major event or travail provides room for thought and a course for action. By that very logic in trying to reform that which seeks change and correcting that which has flaws no matter how effective in other ways, we are trying to take the route of progress. After all what other gifts can we give to our future generations, other than that of a better world?