“Freedom from Want”: A Critical Reflection in the Face of the Anthropocene

Balogun, Kehinde, Kariuki, Weru and Shen, Xiaomeng, (2023). “Freedom from Want”: A Critical Reflection in the Face of the Anthropocene. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, n/a-n/a

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Balogun, Kehinde
    Kariuki, Weru
    Shen, Xiaomeng
    Title “Freedom from Want”: A Critical Reflection in the Face of the Anthropocene
    Appearing in Journal of Human Development and Capabilities
    Publication Date 2023-01-13
    Place of Publication N/a
    Publisher Routledge Taylor and Francis Group
    Start page n/a
    End page n/a
    Language eng
    Abstract The 2022 Special Report on Human Security“ calls for greater solidarity across borders and a new approach to development; one that allows people to live free from want, fear, anxiety and indignity”. This paper analyses the notion of “freedom from want” and argues that human “want”, understood from one cultural perspective/worldview, has created the market society with its GDP growth narrative. Such “want” could become the very reason for perceived insecurity, anxiety and indignity, if the “want” is not only to meet the basic human needs, but rather to meet desires artificially fueled by a market society with its increasingly sophisticated tools, such as digital technology which implicitly manipulate our “wants” and rationalise them within the GDP-growth narrative. This paper proposes a policy shift from focusing on GDP growth to a new paradigm of human flourishment which allows for a“good life”for all (wo)mankind by capitalising on the concept of relational wellbeing. Relational wellbeing advocates for deep connections between humans, and between humans and nature, thereby achieving a greater global solidarity between people and a new mindset towards nature. The next generation of human security shall go beyond the aim of making people secure, and rather focus on how to enable humanity to flourish.
    UNBIS Thesaurus HUMAN SECURITY
    Keyword Anthropocene
    Freedom from want
    Beyond GDP
    Relational wellbeing
    Indigenous knowledge
    Copyright Holder Human Development and Capability Association
    Copyright Year 2022
    Copyright type Creative commons
    DOI 10.1080/19452829.2022.2161493
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    Created: Thu, 19 Jan 2023, 00:19:29 JST by Aarti Basnyat on behalf of UNU EHS