Dedevelopment

Abstract

The state of the planet was briefly examined from economic, social, and environmental perspectives. The examination showed that the world has largely come under a single development paradigm and that the situation this paradigm has led us to is unsustainable and inequitable. There have been a number of efforts to set the planet on a different path to sustainability and social justice but so far they have failed to gain sufficient momentum to achieve change on a scale commensurate with the magnitude and urgency of the problem.

The author contends that these efforts for change might be more effective if they could be united under a common, global theme or objective sharing common principles. The research suggests that the idea of dedevelopment might arise as a theme around which many of the movements seeking sustainability and social justice could unite. The author further attempts to show the form dedevelopment might take.

The deepening of the current economic and climate crises which has occurred since this research was conducted serves to reinforce the author's argument for the necessity and urgency of a change in the current development paradigm.