Ulrich Brand and Markus Wissen wrote about the imperial mode of living to refer to lifestyles in the high income countries that were based on massive exploitation of cheap labor and cheap resources from poor countries.
Interesting piece. I generally agree, especially with the contention that "People in high income countries live a more comfortable life because it is available to them, not because they chose it. Sure, it seems that we choose to buy in supermarkets, but if they weren’t available, would we still do it? If big houses, SUVs, or cruise ships were not available, would anyone still want them? No, of course not."
This analysis lends itself to two things: a critique of lifestyle politics, and an understanding that systemic change is usually the precursor to individual change (at least, on a mass scale).
I saw an example of the power of systems when I adopted my kids from Haiti. In Haiti, they played with whatever was available. I remember them being intrigued playing with rocks and a bottle cap. In the US, almost immediately their rooms got cluttered with toys (even though that's not what I, as a parent, wanted). Same kids, same desire to play. But, yes, we can advocate for changing systems and also model different life ways (to some extent) individually. Ex. We give to and buy from thrift shops.
Interesting piece. I generally agree, especially with the contention that "People in high income countries live a more comfortable life because it is available to them, not because they chose it. Sure, it seems that we choose to buy in supermarkets, but if they weren’t available, would we still do it? If big houses, SUVs, or cruise ships were not available, would anyone still want them? No, of course not."
This analysis lends itself to two things: a critique of lifestyle politics, and an understanding that systemic change is usually the precursor to individual change (at least, on a mass scale).
I saw an example of the power of systems when I adopted my kids from Haiti. In Haiti, they played with whatever was available. I remember them being intrigued playing with rocks and a bottle cap. In the US, almost immediately their rooms got cluttered with toys (even though that's not what I, as a parent, wanted). Same kids, same desire to play. But, yes, we can advocate for changing systems and also model different life ways (to some extent) individually. Ex. We give to and buy from thrift shops.