Humanity is currently
faced with a number of deep and challenging crises: economic, social,
political, over food – and, of course, over climate change, which is
threatening the very existence of millions of people. These crises have many of
the same root causes, going to the core of our economic system. Both the
economic crisis and the climate crisis are thus embedded parts of the capitalist
economy. A system which is geared toward making profits rather than producing
use values; dependent on economic growth (capitalism without growth is
capitalism in crisis); a system exploiting workers and over-exploiting natural
resources – one that is also about to destroy planet earth as a place to live
for future generations.
In this guest
post, Asbjørn Wahl reflects on how this multiplicity of crises does not
only represent a threat, but also an opportunity. It can contribute to
strengthening the mobilisation of social forces needed to break the current
trend – in favour of a democratic and planned development of society.