Production and Consumption
How did colonialism influence the IR? How did the IR influence colonialism?
IR >> colonialism:
IR advances in shipbuilding and navigation --> geographically further conquest
IR depletion of European energy resources --> seeking additional fuel sources abroad
8 narratives of sustainable development applied to global trade
• Development as growth: continue neoclassical system
• Ecological economists: continue but for the people that consume more tax them and use the taxes to remedy environmental stuff
• Development as ecological modernization: produce efficiently but growth is good
• Development as de-growth: do not continue neoclassical system- reuse
• Development as freedom: stop buying and selling if the producing countries have issues with human rights and basic freedoms
• Political ecology: stop trade relationships with states with uneven power dynamic
• Deep ecology:don't buy and trade unless there is environmental benefit
• Development as living well (buen vivir): stop buying and trade; have kinship and be satisfied with the World and what it has for us already
How are today’s cities different from those in the previous centuries?
Scale: larger and more # of cities
Rate: rapid pace of population
Location: Most located in Asia and subsaharan Africa
Form: US consumption-style landscape (low-density automobile planning)
Function: cities-instead of countries- having global power
--> primate city = the population is X2 of the next largest city and is the center of $ and political power
What is a cultural landscape? What are the two forms of imprints humans leave on
cultural landscapes?
Cultural landscape: nature and human culture that shape a particular area
human leave imprints:
1. the landscape itself
2. interactions occurring within the landscape
What factors influenced the three eras of production?
IR: geographical proximity to the energy sources
Fordist: wherever transport of raw materials in and manufactured goods out cheapest (where is it cheapest for us to import cotton and cheapest to export textiles)
Post-fordist: labor cost cheapest (
What is proactive and inclusive planning? What is it
Plans to avoid environmentl=al gentrification
1. do not green an area based on engineering or env. specs alone
2. get diverse opinions (bottom-up)
3. social impact assessments
4. space accomodates everyone
5. co-governance of space (community members involved)
6. avoid greening for market incentives only- set regulations
What are the tradeoffs of urban greenspace?
Urban greenspace: replacing impervious surfaces with natural land cover
Pros:
- increase property value (tax-value = higher)
- increase mental health and physiology benefit (+ noise reduction)
Cons:
- leads to gentrification (unequally distributed)
What are the four types of cultural space that Chacko identifies?
1. Institutions (organizations, associations, religious structures)
- Ethiopian churches in DC, Church of Philippi
2. Socio-commerce (retail, restaurants, commercial enterprises, business areas)
- route 40- Korea way (filled with Korean restaurants and bakery)
3. arenas (temporary spaces)
- Korean festival that occur in the park (park not created for the festival but there)
4. intangible spaces (non-physical places)
- bangtansonyeondan, kakaotalk
Why are sites of production geographically distant from sites of consumption, and why does this matter for sustainability?
Because labor costs are the cheapest. This matters for sustainability bc people consume more since they do not see the direct impacts their consumption can have on the environment, etc.
do not see waste and consumption
**MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
Adaption: reactive approach, after-thought of approach (ex. putting on a band-aid)
Mitigation: proactive approach (ex. policies)
What is resiliency?
the capacity to maintain core function in face of hazardous threats and shocks
What is placelessness and how does it occur?
placelessness: the loss of uniqueness to the point that one place looks like the next
Occurs through:
1. architectural forms
2. businesses
3. idealized landscapes
What are some of the tradeoffs of today’s global neoclassical economic system?
Economic:
(+) LDC: higher pay and diversification of skills, foreign direct investment to industry, better life
MDC: lower price for consumer goods
(-) neocolonialism- continuation of less developed countries' economic dependency on more developed countries despite political independence
severe power imbalances- if MDC moves factory to a different country, causing LDC ppl to lose their jobs
Social:
(+) closer to "good life" via higher paying jobs, global diplomacy via trade relations
(-) slums [overcrowded urban streets], health implications from industrial waste (ex. cancer villages)
Environmental:
(+) global trade of sustainable tech (ex. producing solar panels and gives them to US), the potential for trade pacts btwn only sustainable producers and sustainable consumers
(-) pollution from excess material, toxic waste exported to LDC (MDC transport e-materials and piles of e-materials)
What makes cities resilient to climate change?
Local/Bottom-up: culture matters; they know what will work
Top-down: control of funding manageable/technical expertise + resources
How does the role of culture play in shaping sustainability problems and solutions
- community based organizations: normalize based on culture
- cognitive, affective, and behavioral shaped by culture
- culture influences the consumption of energy, water, food
- culture influences your perception of climate change
How can business play a role in a neoclassical system [consume whenever and wherever we want]?
1. top-earning companies use all resources to advance sustainable consumption
2. companies' initiative for business as part of the solution
- customers demand business being green
- rating agencies demand it
- lessening risk (companies do not like uncertainty coming from climate change)
3. circular (closed-loop) supply chains
4. any product on the shelves of some companies should be following green practices (ex. walmart/costco)
How might urbanization be beneficial to creating a sustainable society?
1. centers for innovation
2. have economies of scales --> can reach more folks since everyone comes to that city (env benefit = less mass transportation)
3. act relatively quickly on sustainability legislation
What is Hofstede's 6 dimensions of culture?
Hofstede: use to analyze and understand cultural variations
- Power Distance Index: less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. Cultures with high PDI scores tend to accept hierarchical authority, while those with low scores prefer more equality in power distribution.
– Individualism vs. Collectivism: Cultures with high individualism scores value personal freedom and individual achievement, whereas those with high collectivism scores prioritize group harmony and cooperation.
– Masculinity vs. Femininity: This dimension explores the distribution of emotional roles between genders. Cultures with high masculinity scores value competitiveness, assertiveness, and material success, while those with high femininity scores prioritize cooperation, modesty, and quality of life.
– Uncertainty Avoidance Index: This dimension measures the extent to which a society feels threatened by uncertain or unknown situations. Cultures with high UAI scores tend to be more rule-oriented and intolerant of ambiguity, while those with low scores are more open to uncertainty and change.
– Long- vs. Short-Term Orientation: Long-term oriented cultures emphasize persistence, perseverance, and thrift, while short-term oriented cultures focus on quick results, stability, and tradition.
– Indulgence vs. Restraint: Cultures with high indulgence scores tend to allow more freedom in these areas, while those with high restraint scores may have stricter social norms.