Why did Green Politics become an ideology, what was it reacting against?

POLI -103 Contemporary political ideologies

Maryanne Cliche

MCliche@coquitlamcollege.com

• 1. INTRO & RECAP

• 2. GREEN POLITICS

• a) Definition

• b) Conception of Human Nature and Freedom

• c) Origins, evolution and key features

• d) Challenges

• 3. HOMEWORK

PLAN FOR TODAY

HOMEWORK

1- Read Chapter 8 of your textbook 2- Review all the additional resources on C4

3- Answer the following questions:

A-What is the difference between internal and external restrictions? Give an example for each. B) How do the liberation ideologies perceive Freedom? How do they perceive human nature? C) What is one of the main challenge facing the liberation ideologies in their implementation? D) What is an affirmative action? Provide one example

RECAP

DEFINITION – LIBERATION IDEOLOGIES

• LIBERATION • TO LIBERATE: « The process of being set free from an oppressive regime. » Colin dictionary

• Human beings; • Are born with a sense of dignity, self-

worth and self-respect.

LIBERATION IDEOLOGIES ON HUMAN NATURE

VAGENT OBSTACLE

LIBERATION IDEOLOGIES ON FREEDOM

GOAL

LIBERATE, FREE THE OPPRESSED GROUP FROM EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL RESTRICTIONS

A PARTICULAR GROUP; BLACK, WOMENS, GAYS, NATIVE PEOPLE, ETC.

A DOMINANT GROUP; WHITE PEOPLE, MEN, EUROPEAN SETTLERS, HUMANS,ETC.

ORIGINS – FEMINISM

1st wave of Feminism (19th- early 20th century) • Eliminating legal inequalities

2nd wave of Feminism (late 1960’s) • Overcoming issues related to sexuality and reproductive rights

Modern thinkers or contributors

Simone de Beauvoir ( 1908-1986) Betty Friedan ( 1921-2006)

ORIGINS – BLACK MOVEMENT

The civil rights movement (1954-1968)

• Through nonviolent protest, the civil rights movement promoted equal rights legislation for African Americans.

Modern thinkers or contributors

Martin Luther King Jr ( 1929-1968) Malcom X ( 1925- 1965)

ORIGINS – GAY (LGBT) MOVEMENT

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender movement (late 20th – 21st century)

=Repealing discriminatory laws and overcoming mistaken beliefs and attitudes toward gay people.

Modern thinkers or contributors

Harvey Milk (1930-1978) Dan Savage ( 1972-) Laverne Cox ( 1972-)

ORIGINS – 1ST NATIONS MOVEMENT

Appropriation of First Nations territories (19th- early 20th century)

= Repealing discriminatory laws and overcoming mistaken beliefs and attitudes toward native people.

Modern thinkers or contributors

Louis Riel (1844-1885) Cindy Blackstock (1964-)

ORIGINS – ANIMAL MOVEMENT

Appropriation of animals by humans (19th century)

= Raising awareness on animal abuse and establishing a moral etiquette to define relationships between animals and humans.

Modern thinkers or contributors

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) Peter Singer ( 1946-)Brigitte Bardot (1934-)

KEY FEATURES OF LIBERATION IDEOLOGIES

1. Each ideology address a particular audience ( women, black people, gays and lesbians, native people, etc.)

2. The audience has been oppressed by some dominant group ( men, white people, humans, etc.)

3. The goal is to liberate these groups from internal and external barriers and inhibitions.

KEY FEATURES OF LIBERATION IDEOLOGIES

4. All ideologies aim to raise consciousness and change the outlooks of people that are oppressive or being oppressed.

4. All ideologies aim to raise consciousness and change the outlooks of people that are oppressive or being oppressed.

5. Liberation ideologies also aim to free the oppressors of its illusion of superiority and help them recognize their victims as fellow human beings.

5. Liberation ideologies also aim to free the oppressors of its illusion of superiority and help them recognize their victims as fellow human beings.

THE 4 FUNCTIONS

1 Explanation

= The beliefs and actions (racism, sexism, homophobia, imperialism, animal abuse etc.) of the oppressive group engaged in dominating the oppressed group explain why things are the way they are.

2 Evaluation

= Conditions are good if every members of the society is treated equally and enjoy the same rights, liberties and senses of dignity and self-respect.

3 Orientation

= The sense of identity is based on the self- identity of the individual and its affiliation with other individuals sharing similar social conditions ( gender, sexual orientation, etc.) causing an individual or a group to be either oppressed or oppressive.

=To bring an end to the oppression of a group of people ( or animals)

4 Political Program

1. Some misunderstanding and complexities remains when it comes to the liberation ideologies

2. Affirmative actions and special efforts can be complex and delicate to achieve

3. Progress is slow and uneven worldwide

DEFINITION – GREEN POLITICS

« A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. »

Aldo Leopold

DEFINITION – GREEN POLITICS

GREEN POLITICS: « Green politics aims to create an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots democracy. »

Derek Wall, 2010 The No-Nonsense Guide to Green Politics.

GREEN POLITICS ON HUMAN NATURE &

FREEDOM

Human beings are born;

1. Dependent and interconnected to nature and its ecosystems.

All species and living creatures;

2. Are interdependent and interconnected

Human beings, just like other

species; 3. Are part of

nature

Ideologies & the Conception of Freedom

VAGENT GOAL OBSTACLE

VAGENT

GREEN POLITICS ON FREEDOM

HUMANS

V

ANTHROPOCENTRISM OR HUMANISM

AGENT OBSTACLE

GREEN POLITICS ON FREEDOM

HUMANS

VAGENT OBSTACLE

GREEN POLITICS ON FREEDOM

GOAL

SURVIVAL AND FLOURISHING OF SPECIESHUMANS

ANTHROPOCENTRISM OR HUMANISM

ORIGINS

Where do Green Politics come from?

ORIGINS – GREEN POLITICS

In reaction to the environmental crisis

• 1960s and 1970s

Early thinkers or contributors

Rachel Carson ( 1907-1964) Aldo Leopold ( 1887-1948)

Modern thinkers or contributors

Derek Wall ( 1965) Al Gore (1948-)

KEY FEATURES OF GREEN POLITICS

1. The Green critique of other ideologies

• Liberals, socialists and (some) conservatives have shared a similar attitude towards nature, one that celebrates the ever increasing human conquest or mastery of nature.

2. Green Politics propose an new ecological ethic

• An ethic that rethinks our attitudes toward and actions within the natural environment.

A NEW ETHIC THAT;

1- Emphasizes the web of interconnections and mutual dependence within which we and other species live.

A NEW ETHIC THAT;

2- Emphasizes the respect for life.

A NEW ETHIC THAT;

3- Emphasizes our obligation as human beings to respect and care for the conditions that sustain life on Earth.

A NEW ETHIC THAT;

4- Emphasizes our obligation to be stewards of the Earth for the sake of future generations as well.

THE 4 FUNCTIONS

4 Functions & Green Politics

1 Explanation

1 Explanation

= The irresponsible disregard of human beings for the delicate and interconnected web of life led to the actual environmental crisis.

4 Functions & Green Politics

2 Evaluation

2 Evaluation = Conditions are good if the natural environment is preserved or protected.

4 Functions & Green Politics

3 Orientation

3 Orientation = The sense of identity is based on the affiliation and interconnectedness of human beings with other species and its inclusion in the natural world.

4 Political Program

4 Functions & Green Politics

4 Political Program

=To promote practices and policies that protect the natural environment, educate and enlighten people about human beings’ dependence and responsibility over the natural environment.

CHALLENGES/CRITICS

1. Some misunderstanding remains when it comes to Green Politics

• i.e. Green Politics is often referred to “Environmentalism but it is more than a movement to protect the environment, it is an ideology that promotes the adoption of a new ethic rooted in respect and stewardship.

2. Short- termism

‘’An excessive focus on short-term results at the expense of long-term interests.’’

i.e. • We are the “generation now” • Indicators of profitability are presented in quarterly reports and shareholders expect return on their investments fast • Politicians are in office for a limited time and implementing long-term policies can be challenging

3. Uneven distribution of public goods will necessitate concerted international actions

i.e. • Air and water pollution know no national or local boundaries • Poorer countries often face disastrous social, environmental and economic consequences and pay a heavy price for global pollution and environmental catastrophes

4. Many shades of Green

i.e. Deep Ecology vs shallow environmentalist

5. The concept of free rider and the tragedy of the commons

i.e. • Individual sacrifices are needed to achieve collective actions, but free riders will try to enjoy public goods without making any individual sacrifice

• Society cannot rely on voluntary efforts to solve environmental problems

6. The environmental crisis is growing and will require a political response

i.e. • Climate Change – rise of sea level, destruction of arable land, intense heat waves, etc.

• The extinction of species – nearly half of known terrestrial vertebrate species are becoming extinct

CHALLENGES/CRITICS

• “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”

-Albert Einstein

HOMEWORK

1- Read Chapter 9 of your textbook

2- Review all additional resources on C4

3- Answer the following questions: A) Why did Green Politics become an ideology,

what was it reacting against? B) What is one the main challenge that it is facing

in its application? C) Review the political platform of the Green

Party of Canada. Find 2 political actions related to Green Politics. Explain how they are related using concepts discussed in class.

D) Explain how climate change is affecting the world we live in. Provide 2 recent examples to support your argument.