Jason Hickel

It may not come as a surprise to most of you to hear that capitalism is the root cause of climate change. But if we unpack this a little bit, we see that it’s a specific component of capitalism that’s mostly responsible: the need for exponential and perpetual expansion. Growth isn’t just a byproduct of capitalism, it’s an imperative — an imperative to which we are all hostage. That’s why, according to our guest in this week’s Conversation, unless the climate movement centers degrowth in its strategies and policy proposals, nothing will fundamentally change. Jason Hickel is an economic anthropologist, Professor at the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and author most recently of Less is More: How Degrowth will Save the World. We first spoke with Jason five years ago on his book The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions, and then again in 2020 on international capitalism during the pandemic. In this conversation, Jason explains why 'growthism' is so problematic for our health and the health of the planet. He talks us through alternatives to growth, and shares how we could realistically unhook from perpetual expansion and transition to a post-growth, post-capitalist economic system where we are all living healthier, happier lives on a thriving planet.  This episode of Upstream was made possible with support from listeners like you. Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

In this discussion, Jason Hickel, a professor and author focused on global inequality and degrowth, challenges the myth that poverty is necessary for sustainability. He presents compelling research revealing that only 30% of current global production is needed to meet everyone's basic needs. Jason advocates for a transition from capitalism to eco-socialism, emphasizing human well-being and democratic planning. They also explore the transformative potential of reimagining economic systems to prioritize community, equity, and ecological health.

Jason Hickel, a professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and author focused on global inequality, dives deep into China's complex history and its rise as a socialist state. He discusses the impact of China's revolutionary journey, addressing its achievements in public health and education. Hickel critiques the misconceptions surrounding China's economic evolution and its unique model compared to Western capitalism. The conversation encourages a reassessment of poverty alleviation in light of socialist policies and reflects on the narratives that shape our understanding of socialism today.

Economic experts and historians discuss the origins of capitalism, from colonial conquest to the privatization of land in Europe. Topics include the Atlantic Slave Trade, racial capitalism, and peasant uprisings against forced land separation.

Jason Hickel discusses how technology in a degrowth society would prioritize collective welfare over profit. They explore the urgent need for sustainable production and the contrasting approaches of green growth vs. degrowth scenarios. The conversation highlights challenges in decarbonization, rethinking production for a democratic economy, and addressing global North-South disparities in energy consumption.

Economic anthropologist Jason Hickel and economist Yanis Varoufakis discuss the flaws of capitalism, the need for sustainable economic models, historical resource mobilization, decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions, rethinking GDP as a metric for societal well-being, and the complexities of capitalism impacting global inequality. They explore the potential for a post-capitalist, post-growth economy to address disparities and exploit

Jason Hickel, a professor at the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology and an author on global inequality, dives into the complexities of China's rise. He challenges the Western narrative of China as a military threat while delving into its historical roots in the global imperial order. Hickel discusses the transformative impacts of the Maoist era, including advancements in healthcare and gender equality. He also unpacks China's evolution from isolation to a liberalized economy, shedding light on the underlying dynamics of U.S.-China relations.

In this discussion, Jason Hickel, a Professor of Global Justice and the Environment at the University of Oslo, dives deep into the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the U.S.'s complicity in ongoing imperialist strategies. He explores how Israel's actions reflect a broader capitalist agenda while drawing parallels with apartheid South Africa. Hickel critiques the two-state solution, advocating for democracy and equal rights for all, and emphasizes the shifting global power dynamics, particularly with the rise of BRICS. A thought-provoking conversation on justice and advocacy!

It’s clear that we need to decarbonize our economy as quickly as possible in order to avoid the worst of climate change — but carbon isn’t the only problem we’re facing. As the world moves towards renewables and away from fossil fuels as an energy source, we can’t forget that the technology and minerals behind this green transition need to come from somewhere — and that somewhere is primarily countries in the Global South. The supply chains which carry the lithium, copper, cobalt, and other minerals essential for renewable technology from the peripheries to the imperial cores — from places like Chile and Bolivia to places like the United States and Europe — are built upon a foundation of colonialism, imperialism, hyper-exploitation, and ecocide: all essential components of our current economic system —  capitalism.  In part one of this two-part series on the green transition, we’re going to explore what happens when we simply paint capitalism green without addressing its fundamental global operating principles and processes. What is the dark side of the energy transition — particularly for the Global South and Indigenous communities?  In part two, we dive deeper into some solutions, but in this episode, we start our journey in the Atacama desert of Chile and end all the way in the Arctic Circle, exploring the global extractive machine and the communities that exist on its frontiers. Featured Guests: Max Ajl: Associated researcher with the Tunisian Observatory for Food Sovereignty and the Environment, postdoctoral fellow with the Rural Sociology Group at Wageningen University, author of A People’s Green New Deal Ana Julia Aneise: Youth climate activist with Youth for Climate Sergio Chaparro: Colombian human rights activist and researcher Jason Hickel: Economic anthropologist and author of Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World Beaska Niillas: Northern Sámi traditional handicrafter, hunter and gatherer, activist, Sámi school kindergarten teacher, politician, and the host of the SuperSápmi Podcast Thea Riofrancos: Associate professor of political science at Providence College and co-author of A Planet To Win: Why We Need a Green New Deal Matthias Schmelzer: Economic historian at the University of Vienna and co-author of The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World beyond Capitalism Music by Chris Zabriskie, Pele, Do Make Say Think, and Sofia Jannok Thank you to Bethan Mure for the cover art. Upstream theme music was composed by Robert Raymond. Both english and spanish transcriptions are available at: upstreampodcast.org/greentransitionpt1. Thank you to Martina Knittel for the Spanish transcription. This episode of Upstream was made possible with support from listeners like you and the Guerrilla Foundation and Resist Foundation. Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support Also, if your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on social media: Facebook.com/upstreampodcast twitter.com/UpstreamPodcast Instagram.com/upstreampodcast You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.  

Andrew Fanning and Jason Hickel discuss climate reparation payments and inequalities in carbon emissions. They explore quantifying compensation for decarbonization, philosophical aspects of climate debt, overpopulation and overconsumption debate, and rebellion against current economic views. The podcast challenges traditional economic perspectives for just and sustainable transformations in the climate crisis.