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Three essays on our planetary future

Karlsson, Rasmus LU (2010) In Lund Political Studies
Abstract
This thesis propounds a techno-environmentalist position. Seeking to combine the need for natural restoration with human development, the thesis explores to what extent more radical forms of ecological modernization can offer a basis for political compromise and open new paths to global long-term sustainability. Based on three published articles, the thesis engages with existing literature on (a) intergenerational justice, (b) sustainable development, and (c) political economy.



Written as a normative inquiry, the thesis advances the “planetary future” as a generative political metaphor. Reflecting the tension between natural dependency and human freedom, this metaphor aims not only to remind us of our shared... (More)
This thesis propounds a techno-environmentalist position. Seeking to combine the need for natural restoration with human development, the thesis explores to what extent more radical forms of ecological modernization can offer a basis for political compromise and open new paths to global long-term sustainability. Based on three published articles, the thesis engages with existing literature on (a) intergenerational justice, (b) sustainable development, and (c) political economy.



Written as a normative inquiry, the thesis advances the “planetary future” as a generative political metaphor. Reflecting the tension between natural dependency and human freedom, this metaphor aims not only to remind us of our shared vulnerability, as engendered by ecological decay and omnicidal weapons, but also to inspire a sense of global political agency. By taking the Enlightenment idea of a self-directing democratic future to the planetary level, the thesis hopes to turn our attention to the possibilities of human agency and help to spark a debate about what we, as an emerging planetary civilization, can hope to achieve in the century ahead.



At the same time, the thesis seeks to offer an epistemological and political critique of its own macro-level perspective on human history, arguing that a one-sided focus on the “big picture questions” of humanity can risk relativizing local struggles for sustainability and trivialize more grounded forms of knowledge. Contrary to the managerial approach of Earth System Analysis and other similar perspectives, the thesis emphasizes the need for political deliberation and the value of diversity, both in its own right and as a source of social innovation. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Föreliggande avhandling argumenterar för värdet av ett långsiktigt planetärt perspektiv i politiken. Vi har blivit vana att tänka på de risker som moderniteten genererar utifrån ett vidgat tidsligt och rumsligt perspektiv (till exempel utgör år 2100 en återkommande referenspunkt för forskningen kring globala klimatförändringar). På samma sätt bör vi fråga oss vilka politiska möjligheter som mänskligheten kan tänkas ha inom motsvarande tidsrymd. Utifrån tre artiklar som tidigare publicerats i internationell vetenskaplig press syftar avhandlingen till att visa hur ett långsiktigt planetärt perspektiv kan hjälpa till att förändra vår förståelse av hållbarhetsfrågor och göra det möjligt att formulera nya politiska strategier på global nivå.... (More)
Föreliggande avhandling argumenterar för värdet av ett långsiktigt planetärt perspektiv i politiken. Vi har blivit vana att tänka på de risker som moderniteten genererar utifrån ett vidgat tidsligt och rumsligt perspektiv (till exempel utgör år 2100 en återkommande referenspunkt för forskningen kring globala klimatförändringar). På samma sätt bör vi fråga oss vilka politiska möjligheter som mänskligheten kan tänkas ha inom motsvarande tidsrymd. Utifrån tre artiklar som tidigare publicerats i internationell vetenskaplig press syftar avhandlingen till att visa hur ett långsiktigt planetärt perspektiv kan hjälpa till att förändra vår förståelse av hållbarhetsfrågor och göra det möjligt att formulera nya politiska strategier på global nivå. Samtidigt vill avhandlingen visa på farorna med ett dylikt makroperspektiv och uppmärksamma behovet av lokal kunskap och demokratisk förankring. I takt med att hållbarhetsproblematiken blir alltmer akut ökar behovet av en medveten proaktiv politik som förmår överbrygga politiska låsningar och skapa nya berättelser om mänsklighetens framtid. Genom att utmana en rad etablerade perspektiv, från djupekologi till liberal tillväxtoptimism, hoppas avhandlingen kunna inspirera till en förnyad demokratisk debatt om dessa frågor. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Jagers, Sverker, Luleå Tekniska Universitet
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
democracy, intergenerational justice, Global change, sustainable development, innovation policy
in
Lund Political Studies
issue
162
pages
116 pages
publisher
Lund University
defense location
Edens hörsal, Paradisgatan 5 H, Lund
defense date
2010-12-17 13:15:00
ISSN
0460-0037
ISBN
91-88306-81-x
978-91-88306-81-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ca5c9505-ca8e-46e3-a0e5-143e4cab04f4 (old id 1718875)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:20:09
date last changed
2019-07-04 11:30:39
@phdthesis{ca5c9505-ca8e-46e3-a0e5-143e4cab04f4,
  abstract     = {{This thesis propounds a techno-environmentalist position. Seeking to combine the need for natural restoration with human development, the thesis explores to what extent more radical forms of ecological modernization can offer a basis for political compromise and open new paths to global long-term sustainability. Based on three published articles, the thesis engages with existing literature on (a) intergenerational justice, (b) sustainable development, and (c) political economy.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Written as a normative inquiry, the thesis advances the “planetary future” as a generative political metaphor. Reflecting the tension between natural dependency and human freedom, this metaphor aims not only to remind us of our shared vulnerability, as engendered by ecological decay and omnicidal weapons, but also to inspire a sense of global political agency. By taking the Enlightenment idea of a self-directing democratic future to the planetary level, the thesis hopes to turn our attention to the possibilities of human agency and help to spark a debate about what we, as an emerging planetary civilization, can hope to achieve in the century ahead.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
At the same time, the thesis seeks to offer an epistemological and political critique of its own macro-level perspective on human history, arguing that a one-sided focus on the “big picture questions” of humanity can risk relativizing local struggles for sustainability and trivialize more grounded forms of knowledge. Contrary to the managerial approach of Earth System Analysis and other similar perspectives, the thesis emphasizes the need for political deliberation and the value of diversity, both in its own right and as a source of social innovation.}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Rasmus}},
  isbn         = {{91-88306-81-x}},
  issn         = {{0460-0037}},
  keywords     = {{democracy; intergenerational justice; Global change; sustainable development; innovation policy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{162}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Political Studies}},
  title        = {{Three essays on our planetary future}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3310705/4770583.pdf}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}