IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v8y2024i8p4400-4414.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reinterpreting Degrowth: Addressing Historical Inequalities and Sustainable Development in the Global South with a Special focus on Sri Lanka

Author

Listed:
  • KR Koralage

    (University of Aberystwyth, Student)

Abstract

As the concept of degrowth gains traction as a response to escalating ecological crises, its applicability to the Global South presents complex challenges. Historically, the Global North has been the primary driver of industrialization, economic expansion, and environmental degradation, disproportionately contributing to global issues like climate change and resource depletion. In contrast, the Global South, with its rich traditions of self-sufficiency, faces severe developmental challenges, including poverty and inequality, exacerbated by colonial legacies and economic dependency. This study adopts a qualitative research approach, grounded in postcolonial theory, to explore the dynamics between the Global North and South. Through a case study of Sri Lanka, the research examines how degrowth principles can be reinterpreted to meet the specific needs and aspirations of the Global South. The methodological approach is informed by ecological economics and political ecology, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability and social equity. The study proposes a tailored approach to degrowth in Sri Lanka, leveraging the country’s historical and cultural strengths in sustainable living and community-based resource management. It advocates for the integration of degrowth-oriented policies into national development plans, emphasizing renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly tourism. Additionally, it highlights the importance of engaging local communities in the degrowth dialogue, ensuring that traditional knowledge systems are incorporated into sustainable development strategies. By reimagining degrowth within the unique socio-economic context of Sri Lanka, this paper argues that the country can pursue a development path that addresses both ecological concerns and the well-being of its people. The study also examines broader issues of global inequality, historical injustices, and the portrayal of the Global South in Western media, aiming to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Suggested Citation

  • KR Koralage, 2024. "Reinterpreting Degrowth: Addressing Historical Inequalities and Sustainable Development in the Global South with a Special focus on Sri Lanka," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(8), pages 4400-4414, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:8:y:2024:i:8:p:4400-4414
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-8-issue-8/4400-4414.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/reinterpreting-degrowth-addressing-historical-inequalities-and-sustainable-development-in-the-global-south-with-a-special-focus-on-sri-lanka/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yaryna Khmara & Jakub Kronenberg, 2020. "Degrowth in the Context of Sustainability Transitions: In Search for a Common Ground," Lodz Economics Working Papers 1/2020, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology.
    2. Gräbner-Radkowitsch, Claudius & Strunk, Birte, 2023. "Degrowth and the Global South: The twin problem of global dependencies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    3. Kalindu Mendis & Menaha Thayaparan & Yamuna Kaluarachchi & Chaminda Pathirage, 2023. "Challenges Faced by Marginalized Communities in a Post-Disaster Context: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Kristian Kongshøj, 2023. "Social policy in a future of degrowth? Challenges for decommodification, commoning and public support," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Paulo, Sebastian, 2014. "International cooperation and development: a conceptual overview," IDOS Discussion Papers 13/2014, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    6. Jayasinghe, Maneka & Selvanathan, E.A. & Selvanathan, Saroja, 2021. "Energy poverty in Sri Lanka," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Hanushek, Eric A., 2013. "Economic growth in developing countries: The role of human capital," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 204-212.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Teixeira, Aurora A.C. & Tavares-Lehmann, Ana Teresa, 2014. "Human capital intensity in technology-based firms located in Portugal: Does foreign ownership matter?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 737-748.
    2. Rakhman, Fuad & Wijayana, Singgih, 2024. "Human development and the quality of financial reporting among the local governments in Indonesia," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    3. Zhang, Xiaobei & Wang, Xiaojun, 2021. "Measures of human capital and the mechanics of economic growth," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    4. Alfred A. Haug & Vincent C. Blackburn, 2017. "Government secondary school finances in New South Wales: accounting for students’ prior achievements in a two-stage DEA at the school level," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 69-83, August.
    5. Jun Zhang & Yuang He & Jing Zhang, 2022. "Energy Poverty and Depression in Rural China: Evidence from the Quantile Regression Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Altinok, Nadir & Aydemir, Abdurrahman, 2017. "Does one size fit all? The impact of cognitive skills on economic growth," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 176-190.
    7. Rory Horner & David Hulme, 2019. "From International to Global Development: New Geographies of 21st Century Development," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 50(2), pages 347-378, March.
    8. Muhammad Shafiullah & Zhilun Jiao & Muhammad Shahbaz & Kangyin Dong, 2023. "Examining energy poverty in Chinese households: An Engel curve approach," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 149-184, March.
    9. Chong Siew Huay & Yasmin Bani, 2023. "The Impact of Remittances on Human Capital in Sub-Saharan Countries," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 15(3), pages 172-178.
    10. Kseniia Gatskova & Artjoms Ivlevs & Barbara Dietz, 2017. "Does migration affect education of girls and young women in Tajikistan?," WIDER Working Paper Series 104, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    11. Christopher P. P. Shafuda & Utpal Kumar De, 2020. "Government expenditure on human capital and growth in Namibia: a time series analysis," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Ahmad, Husnain F. & Gibson, Matthew & Nadeem, Fatiq & Nasim, Sanval & Rezaee, Arman, 2022. "Forecasts: Consumption, Production, and Behavioral Responses," IZA Discussion Papers 15831, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Carolina Zayas Márquez & Santos Lopez Leyva & Patricia Moctezuma Hernández, 2016. "Influencia de los rankings universitarios sobre la calidad de las universidades de Argentina, Brasil, Chile y México," Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación volume 11, in: José Manuel Cordero Ferrera & Rosa Simancas Rodríguez (ed.), Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación 11, edition 1, volume 11, chapter 25, pages 467-482, Asociación de Economía de la Educación.
    14. Daniel Meierrieks & Laura Renner, 2017. "Stymied ambition: does a lack of economic freedom lead to migration?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 30(3), pages 977-1005, July.
    15. Tran, Nguyen Van & Alauddin, Mohammad & Tran, Quyet Van, 2019. "Labour quality and benefits reaped from global economic integration: An application of dynamic panel SGMM estimators," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 92-106.
    16. Sujuan Wang & Xiaonan Lin & Honggen Xiao & Naipeng Bu & Yanan Li, 2022. "Empirical Study on Human Capital, Economic Growth and Sustainable Development: Taking Shandong Province as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-22, June.
    17. Mohammed Shuaibu & Popoola Timothy Oladayo, 2016. "Determinants Of Human Capital Development In Africa: A Panel Data Analysis," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 7(4), pages 523-549, December.
    18. Liu, Dan & Jin, Yanhong & Pray, Carl & Liu, Shuang, 2020. "The Effects of Digital Inclusive Finance on Household Income and Income Inequality in China?," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304238, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    19. Anjum Siddiqui & Atiq ur Rehman, 2017. "The human capital and economic growth nexus: in East and South Asia," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(28), pages 2697-2710, June.
    20. Slobodan DJADJIC & Frédéric DOCQUIER & Michael S. MICHAEL, 2019. "Optimal Education Policy and Human Capital Accumulation in the Context of Brain Drain," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 85(4), pages 271-303, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:8:y:2024:i:8:p:4400-4414. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.