Topic 10 – Democracy in the end times: Care as politics

Topic 10 – Democracy in the end times: Care as politics 18 November 2024 Section overviewThis section explores the deep connections between climate change, political instability, and the evolving concept of care as a transformative political and economic force. While traditional climate studies have often emphasized environmental and economic impacts, this chpater shifts focus to the social and political dimensions of the crisis, arguing that the climate emergency threatens not only ecological balance but democratic structures and social cohesion worldwide. Increasingly, populist and authoritarian approaches are emerging as responses to climate-induced crises, highlighting the urgent need for new models of political and social organization.A central theme of the chapter is the re-emergence of care as a vital concept for rethinking political community and social relationships. Drawing from thinkers like David Graeber and Joan Tronto, the section examines care not only as an ethical commitment but as a basis for alternative political economies. Students will investigate how care, once confined to the private sphere or seen as a moral duty, is now envisioned as an inclusive, democratic force that counters neoliberal individualism and advocates for communal responsibility. Graeber’s concept of a “caring politics” and Tronto’s notion of “caring democracy” offer blueprints for a society where mutual aid, solidarity, and egalitarian access to resources replace profit-driven models. Powered By EmbedPress