Free market economy, representative democracy, cultural globalisation and the protection of the environment
by Ioannis A. Kaskarelis
International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development (IJESD), Vol. 8, No. 2, 2009

Abstract: Leaning upon profit, competition and dominance, free market economy is obliged to create needs and invent prospects in order to survive through growth. In our days, democracy, the electoral body does not usually decide about the policies, the political parties do not represent relevant socio-economic classes and politicians, aiming at their political survival, are handling state affairs balancing among lobbies, which promote special and sectoral interests. Cultural globalisation preceded the economic globalisation of deregulated and internationalised markets, since the former was a necessary condition for the prevalence of the later and therefore for the survival (expansion) of capitalism through the flattening of the different people cultures. Human masses have now been used to the ambiguity of notions, the plurality and reflexivity of values. Our civilisation will never stop to grab and appropriate from the natural ecosystems. The deeper cause of the environmental deadlock we are today is the lack of moral stature and the frivolous behaviour of intellectuals and scientists. If humanity were willing to adopt moral values it should had turned back to classical studies and the compulsory humanistic education.

Online publication date: Sun, 22-Mar-2009

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