Alternative development: Beyond ecological communities and associations

Abstract

Though Korea is commonly cited as an example of 'successful model of developmental states', from an ecological perspective, Korean capitalism can only be properly described as a successful story of neo-liberal globalisation. In other words, the Korean model of development, like that in other capitalist countries, is neither just nor sustainable. Of the four ecological discourses on alternative development: eco-authoritarianism, liberalist environmental managerialism, welfare state ecologism, and ecological communities and associations, the latter two are more desirable and/or feasible to draw an alternative theory and strategy, for quite different reasons. Furthermore, a real workable discourse and strategy should be an appropriate combination of them two: converting developmental or capitalist states into ecological welfare states on the basis of ecological communities or associations, and meanwhile, creating a self-governing system of associations that would develop ecological democracy beyond the framework of nation state. Until ecological communities or associations grow up step by step and eventually surpass ecological welfare states, our society will still be in the hands of the authoritarian capitalist states, which are neither ecological nor democratic. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.