Beyond the Growth Paradigm: Creating a unified progressive politics

Abstract

Over the past century, the United States has played a leading role in the global economic system, as the largest economy, financial hub, and development model. However, the US political economy is failing across a broad front – environmental, social, economical, and political – which affects the prospects for sustainable development in the world at large. The restoration of global sustainable development will require deep, systemic changes, especially in the world’s leading economy, to transition to a new economic system in which the acknowledged priority is to sustain human and natural communities. Policies are available to effect this transformation and to temper economic growth and consumerism while simultaneously improving social well-being and quality of life, but a new politics involving a coalescence of progressive communities is needed to realize these policies. Given the national focus of political action, this article focuses on the US political economy. On the key issue of economic growth, differing positions among American liberals and environmentalists loom, a major barrier to progressive fusion. This article proposes a starting point for forging a common platform and agenda around which both liberals and environmentalists can rally.