Counter-development
Encyclopedia
Counter-development is a strategy and world-view advocated by Helena Norberg-Hodge
and the Indian organization Ladakh Ecological Development Group(LEDeG). In her book, Ancient Futures
, Helena Norberg-Hodge entails "traditional" ways of life employed by the Ladakh people in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. A broad base of people need to adopt Counter-development, to check and reverse the tide of environmental destruction, social fragmentation, and to the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of transnational corporations.
The manifestation of counter-development in the first world would,
"...heal ourselves and the planet, we need to regain control of these levers [Regulation, Taxes and Subsidies, and Measures of Societal Well-being] through economic activism, underpinned by an understanding of the workings of globalization. If the multitude of social and environmental movements link hands to address a common agenda, sufficient pressure can be exerted to bring about meaningful policy change."
Counter-development seeks return to rural communities which would be semi-autarkic
, ecologically-sound and autonomous. Norberg-Hodge urges this restructuring as an answer to fundamental flaws and repercussion of the global economic system
.
Helena Norberg-Hodge
Helena Norberg-Hodge is an analyst of the impact of the global economy on cultures and agriculture worldwide, a pioneer of the localisation movement, and the articulator of the core ideas of Counter-development...
and the Indian organization Ladakh Ecological Development Group(LEDeG). In her book, Ancient Futures
Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh
Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh is a book by Helena Norberg-Hodge. The book was published in 1991. The 1st part of the book described the untouched land of Ladakh, when Helena first arrived in 1975, on how everyone is so happy and contented. In the "olden" world, Ladakhis women enjoyed high...
, Helena Norberg-Hodge entails "traditional" ways of life employed by the Ladakh people in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. A broad base of people need to adopt Counter-development, to check and reverse the tide of environmental destruction, social fragmentation, and to the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of transnational corporations.
The manifestation of counter-development in the first world would,
"...heal ourselves and the planet, we need to regain control of these levers [Regulation, Taxes and Subsidies, and Measures of Societal Well-being] through economic activism, underpinned by an understanding of the workings of globalization. If the multitude of social and environmental movements link hands to address a common agenda, sufficient pressure can be exerted to bring about meaningful policy change."
Counter-development seeks return to rural communities which would be semi-autarkic
Autarky
Autarky is the quality of being self-sufficient. Usually the term is applied to political states or their economic policies. Autarky exists whenever an entity can survive or continue its activities without external assistance. Autarky is not necessarily economic. For example, a military autarky...
, ecologically-sound and autonomous. Norberg-Hodge urges this restructuring as an answer to fundamental flaws and repercussion of the global economic system
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
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