The Degrowth Imperative: A Philosophical Investigation Into the Role of the Economy in Degrowth Society

Abstract

This thesis critically examines the ideological, historical, and structural foundations of capitalist growth and proposes a framework for transitioning toward a degrowth economy. It explores how capitalism emerged through land dispossession, colonial extraction, and the commodification of labor and nature. Traces the evolution of growth-oriented economies, from enclosure and colonialism to financialization, austerity, and technofeudalism, dynamics that have deepened inequality, undermined democracy and ecological stability. In response, the thesis presents a degrowth framework built on six pillars: rethinking scarcity, redistribution and money, circular economy, reconnecting with neighbour and nature, restructuring contemporary worklife, incorporating real sustainability and redemocratization of society. Case studies and real-world experiments demonstrate the viability of these alternatives, while also exposing financial and institutional constraints. To address these barriers, the thesis applies Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) to challenge neoliberal fiscal orthodoxy and introduces a utopian proposal for an MMT-inspired international currency. While anticipating resistance, this vision serves as an imaginative tool to inspire democratic, cross-border provisioning aligned with ecological and social priorities. A just and sustainable future, the thesis argues, requires not only rethinking production and consumption but also transforming the institutions of money, debt, and finance.