87 | The Politics of Left-Wing Climate Realism w/ Dr. Ajay Singh Chaudhary
Apr 17, 2024
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Dr. Ajay Singh Chaudhary discusses climate degradation, colonial relations, and left-wing climate realism. They dispel apocalyptic fantasies and explore the role of temporality in addressing climate crises. The conversation emphasizes the need for systemic changes and broad coalitions for effective climate activism.
'Left-wing climate realism' advocates anti-colonial struggles and sustainable practices against 'extractive circuits'.
Present-centered political actions are crucial, challenging providence-based futurity in climate change debates.
Relying on children like Greta Thunberg to solve societal challenges evades individual responsibility.
Deep dives
Challenging Universal Unity in Climate Change Response
The podcast episode challenges the misconception that climate change universally unifies humanity to address the crisis. Instead, it discusses the complexity of responses, including 'right-wing climate realism' where advantaged groups may focus on self-preservation rather than collective action. It also pushes back on the apocalyptic vision of climate change, emphasizing the need for proactive and nuanced political engagement.
Left-Wing Climate Realism and Extractive Circuits
The episode introduces the concept of 'left-wing climate realism' as a crucial approach that advocates anti-colonial struggles globally. It highlights the 'extractive circuit' as a core mechanism driving capitalism, as illustrated through the exploitation of resources like cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The discussion emphasizes the need to shift towards sustainable practices and renewable energy sources to counteract colonial value extraction.
Rethinking Progress and Present-Centered Politics
The episode challenges traditional ideas of progress, critiquing providence-based futurity commonly embedded in climate change discussions. It advocates for present-centered political actions focused on immediate changes rather than future promises. By emphasizing history and present struggles over linear progression or regression, it calls for a reevaluation of political strategies and a shift towards more sustainable configurations of production and societal engagement.
Examining the Notion of Children as Saviors
The podcast delves into the common belief that children will be the ones to save the world from its current challenges. The discussion challenges this idea, emphasizing that relying on children to be the saviors may be a way for individuals to evade taking responsibility for addressing societal and environmental issues. Using the example of Greta Thunberg, the podcast critiques the notion of placing the burden of change solely on the younger generation.
Emphasizing the Need for Realistic and Present-Centric Action
The episode underscores the importance of understanding the present situation accurately to drive effective political action. It advocates for a realist approach that focuses on taking concrete steps in the present rather than banking on future events for salvation. By highlighting the ongoing impact of climate change and the need for immediate structural changes, the podcast encourages a proactive and vigilant stance towards addressing pressing societal and environmental challenges.
In this episode, we are joined by Ajay Chaudhary to discuss his book The Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World and the political, economic, and affective sites of exhaustion reproduced through climate degradation. We examine the expanding colonial relations of what Chaudhary calls the “extractive circuit” between the both the Global South and Global North as well as widening segments of the working classes in the Global North. We dispel fantasies of both the hope that climate change will automatically unify a coherent politics for a just transition and the fear of a human apocalypse. Given this, what would a left-wing climate realism look like as opposed to burgeoning forms of right-wing climate realism that aims to extract and protect as much wealth as possible for a vanishingly small minority? Much of our conversation concerns the role of temporality in our politics and the imperative not to wait for the future to solve our climate crises. Turns out waiting for Greta Thunberg to solve all our problems is a poor strategy!
leftofphilosophy.com | @leftofphil
thebrooklyninstitute.com | @materialist_jew
References:
Ajay Singh Chaudhary, “We’re Not in This Together,” The Baffler (2020) https://thebaffler.com/salvos/were-not-in-this-together-chaudhary
Ajay Singh Chaudhary, The Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World (London: Repeater Books, 2024).
Music:
“Vintage Memories” by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com
“My Space” by Overu | https://get.slip.stream/KqmvAN
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