timeline

sustainable luxury

volume architectural magazine_vol.18_after zero

THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF SUSTAINABILITY

A timeline of theories, movements and actors

Speaking about the environment today apparently means speaking about sustainability. Theoretically, no one can take a stand against sustainability because there is no definition of it. Neither is there a history of sustainability. The S-word seems to point to a universal idea, valid anywhere, at any time. Although the notion of sustainability appeared for the first time in Germany in the 18th century (as Nachhaltigkeit), infact sustainability (and the creative oxymoron 'sustainable development') is a young concept. Developed in the early seventies, it was formalized and officially adopted by the international community in 1987 in the UN report 'Our Common Future'. Looking back, we see that Western society has always been obsessed by its relationship with the environment, with what it meant to be outside ourselves, or, as some call it, nature. Mnay ideas preceded the notion of sustainability and even today there are various trends and original ideas following old ideological traditions. Some of these directly oppose sustainability. This timeline is a subjective attempt to historically map the different ideas around the problem of the relationship between humans and their environment.

Amir Djalali with Piet Vollaard

List of movements

Alternaive Technology Ecology
This is a group of researchers and designers seeking alternative technologies to cope with the finitude of natural resources. Solutions proposed are based on different approaches to scale, density, material cycles and conviviality.
Anarco-primitivism
The anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization. See also Eco-anarchism.
Anti-essentialism
These theories do not recognize nature as a self-standing entity, but an ideological or discursive construction. See also Deconstruction, Post-structuralism, Eco-feminism, Anti-nature ecologism.
Anti-nature ecologism
Proponents of this theory have abandoned any idea of nature, pointing out that they are all ideological. Anti-nature ecologists argue that our very idea of nature is the cause of the damages we are inflicting on it.
Antigrowth
A movement contesting economic reductiomism and the ideology of development. Antigrowth theorists argue that the very nature of the notion of Western progress is to be blamed for the environment's destruction. They propose an economy of un-growth, a Zero-growth economy or a 'self sustainable local development'.
Bio-economics (or ecological-economics)
A trans-disciplinary field of academic research hat adresses the metric of interdependence between human economies and natural systems. It's main focus is the 'scale' conundrum, or how to operate an ecoomy within the ecological constraints of the earth's resources.
Bio-regionalism
Bio-regionalism's approach to political, cultural and environmental issues is based on naturaly-defined regional areas consistent with the concept of bioregions or ecoregions. These areas are usually based on a combination of physical and environmental features, includng watershed boundries and soil and terrain characteristics. Bio-regionalism stresses that the determination of a bioregion is also a cultural phenomenon-with phrases such as 'the politics of place' and 'terrain of consciousness'-and places emphasis on local populatins, knowladge and solutions.
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to control theory and Systems Theory. Both in its origins and in its evolution in the second-half of the 20th century, cybernetics is equally applicable to physical and social (that is, language-based) systems. Cybernetics is preeminent when the system under scrunity is involved in a closed single loop where action by the system in an environment causes some change in the environment and that change is manifest to the system via information/feedback that causes changes in the way the system then behaves.
Deconstruction
Deconstruction is a term used in philosophy, literary criticism and the social sciences popularized by Jacques Derrida in the 1960's. It is: 'Astrategy of critical analysis...directed towards exposing unquestioned metaphysical assumptions and internal contradictions in philosophical and literary language.' (OED). Alongside Post-structuralism, Deconstructionists analysis of nature questions nature's ontological value as a self-standing, metaphysical entity.
Deep ecology
The branch of environmental philosophy which considers human beings as part of the whole environment. Deep ecology has led to a new system of environmental ethics. The core principle of deep ecology as originally developed is Arne Naess's doctrine of biospheric egalitarianism-the claim that, like humanity, the living environment as a whole has the same right to live and flourish.
Eco-anarchism
The anarchist school of thought emphasizes the environment. Some green anarchists can be described as anarcho-primitivists and sometimes anti-civilizaton anarchists, though not all green anarchists are primitivists. Likewise, there is a strong critique of technology among some green anarchists, though not all reject it entirely. Sometimes green anarchism is said to be techno-positive or techno-negative to differentiate between those who advocate use of advanced green technology to cretae and maintain an anarchist society and those who mainly see civilization and modern technology as something negative (see Anarcoprimitivism).
Eco-fascism/Eco-nazism
Extreme right-wing movements that incorporate environmentalist positions into their ideology. Nazi and fascist environmentalism is mainly a reactionary and anti-modernist idea of the preservaion of nature, seen as a symbol of national and racial identity.
Eco-feminism
Eco-feminism is a social and political movement which attempts to unite environmentalism and feminismwith some currents linking (c.f.) Deep ecology and feminism. Eco-feminists argue that a relationship exists between the oppression of women and the degradation of nature. They explore the intersectionality between sexism, the domination of nature, racism, speciesism and other characteristics of social inequality.
Ecology
The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of life and the interaction between organisms and their environment. Ecology is not based on the mechanicistic paradigm (see Mechanicism), as life phenomena cannot always be interpreted through cause-effect patterns. On the contrary, by virtue of contributions from Biology, (c.f.) Evolutionism, (c.f.) Cybernetics (c.f.) and Systems Theory, Ecology is considered a seperate paradigm.
Eco-Marxism
Contrary to the depiction of Karl Marx as a productivist who favored the domination of nature, eco-Marxists believe he was a main originator of the ecological world-view. Eco-Marxist authors, point to Marx’s discussion of a ‘metabolic rift’ between man and nature, his statement that ‘private ownership of the globe by single individuals will appear quite absurd’ and his observation that a society must ‘hand it [the planet] down to succeeding generations in an improved condition’. Other (c.f.) Eco-socialists feel thatMarx overlooked a ‘recognition of nature in and for itself’, ignoring its ‘receptivity’ and treating nature as ‘subjected to labor from the start’ in an ‘entirely active relationship’.
Eco-phenomenology
Ecological phenomenologists argue that the environmental crisis is equally physical and metaphysical, and that a fundamental reconceptualization of human relationships with the earth is necessary to help undo the damage stemming from a contemporary Western history of separation from and utilitarian valuation and exploitation of the natural world.
Eco-socialism
The utopian reformist critique of capitalism aims for the reestablishment of pre-industrial lifestyles in order to preserve social relations and the environment.
Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment or the Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase inWestern philosophy and cultural history in the eighteenth century during which reason was advocated as the primary source and basis of authority. Enlightened philosophers were profoundly influenced by the scientific method of mechanical physics.
Evolutionism
As developed by Charles Darwin and others, the theory of evolution describes the process of change in all forms of life over generations. An organism inherits features (traits) from its parents through genes. Changes (mutations) in these genes can produce a new trait in offspring. If a new trait makes these offspring better suited to their environment, they will be more successful at surviving and reproducing. This process is called natural selection and it causes useful traits to become more common. Over many generations a population can acquire so many new traits that it becomes a new species.
Free Market Ecology
This theory states that through the constant flexibility and adaptiveness of its devices – such as the price system – the free market is the best solution to overcome the environmental crisis. Free market ecologists, supported in part by Garrett Hardin’s works, propose the privatization of common goods such as land, water and air to solve the alleged inefficiency of common property.
Global warming conspiracy theory
Supporters of this theory claim that the theory of global warming is a fraud, perpetuated for financial, ideological or world domination purposes.
Global warming denialism
This theory describes efforts to counter all or part of the theory of global climate change when those involved are believed to be acting out of vested interests rather than an unbiased evaluation of the scientific data. While the term ‘climate skeptic’ generally refers to scientists taking good faith positions on the global warming controversy, ‘climate change denial’ usually refers to disinformation campaigns, particularly by groups with ties to the energy lobby.
Libertarian Transhumanism
Advocates of the ‘right to human enhancement’ who argue that the free market is the best guarantor of this right since it produces greater prosperity and personal freedom than other economic systems.
Luddism
Social movement of British textile artisans in the early nineteenth century who protested – often by destroying mechanized looms – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution which they felt threatened their livelihood. For a short time the Luddite movement was so strong that it clashed in
battles with the British Army. See also: Neo-Luddism.
Malthusianism
English economist ThomasMalthus expressed views on population growth and noted the potential for populations to increase rapidly and often faster than the food supply available to them. This scenario, outlined in his treatise An Essay on the Principle of Population, is known as a Malthusian catastrophe. Malthusian classical theories continue to inspire researchers today (see Neo-Malthusianism).
Mechanicism
This theory offers the interpretation of phenomena through mechanical models and the belief that reality can be reduced to cause-effect patterns. It has its origin in the application of the scientific method of physics to ‘weaker’ sciences, such as the human sciences, politics and sociology. Even if the mechanicistic, cause-effect model has been superseded in most fields by (c.f.) Ecology, (c.f.) Cybernetics or (c.f.) Systems Theory, it is still influential of Western societies.
Millenarianism
Millenarianism is the belief by a religious, social or political group or movement in a coming major transformation of society after which all things will be changed. Millennialism is a specific form of Millenarianism based on a one thousand year cycle and this form is especially significant within Christianity. Millenarian groups typically claim that society and its rulers are corrupt, unjust or otherwise wrong. They therefore believe they will be destroyed soon by a powerful force. The harmful nature of the status quo is always considered intractable without the anticipated dramatic change. See also Neo-millenarism.
Neo-Eugenics
This is a pseudo-scientific medical discipline aiming at improving the human species through breeding and DNA manipulation techniques.
Neo-Luddism
Neo-Luddism is a modern movement of opposition to specific or general technological developments. Few people describe themselves as neo-Luddites; the term 'neo-luddite' is most often deployed by advocates of technlogy to describe that resist technological advances.
Neo-Malthusianism
Neo-Malthusianism is a set of doctrines derived from Thomas Malthus's theory that limited resources keep populations in check and reduce economic growth. A current proponent of Neo-Malthusianism is the Club of Rome.
Neo-Millenarianism
As periods of crisis emerge, millenarian fears rise(see Millenarianism). So we can expect a new millenariantide for the next future.
Permaculture
The word was coined in 1978 by ecologist Bill Mollison and one of his students David Holmgren. It is a contraction of 'permanet agriculture' or 'permanent culture'. Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of humandwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils and water into stanle, productive communities. The focus is on the relationships created among the elements by the way we place them in hte landscape. This synergy is further enhanced by mimicking patterns found in the nature.
Positivism
Positivism puts forward that the only authentic knowledge is based on actual sense experience. Such knowledge can only come from strict scentific method. Metaphysical speculation is avoided Through the positivist approach can be traced back to the beginnings of scientific method in Ibn al-Haytham's 'Book of Optics', the concept was first coined by Auguste Comte, widely considered the first modern sociologist, in the middle of the 19th century. See also Mechanicism
Post-structuralism
Post-structuralist philosophy states that language is not the expression of an immanent 'structure' of the world (as structuralist philosophy argued) but rather that language constructs the world's structure. For this reason, post-structuralists believe that no nature exists. What we call nature is a field of different contrasting forces of practices, power and desires.
Romanticism
Romanticism is an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th centuryin Western Europe and gained strength during the Industrial Revolution. It was partly a revolt against the social and political norms of the Enlightment and a reaction to the scientific rationalization of nature. It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music and literature. The movement argued for a 'natural' epistemology of human activities as conditioned by nature in the form of language, custom and usage.
Sustainable developmentalsim
First formalized in the Bruntland Report ('Our common future’, 1987), those who believe in Sustainable Development put forward that it is possible to amend the negative environmental side-effects of capitalistic economic development, satisfying present needs without compromising the needs of future generations.
Systems theory (General)
Systems theory is the interdisciplinary study of complex systems in nature, society and science. It is a framework with which one can analyze and/or describe any group of objects that work in concert: a single organism, any organization or society, or any electro-mechanical or informational artifact. Systems theory originated in biology in the 1920s from the need to explain the interrelatedness of organisms in ecosystems. As a technical and general academic area of study it predominantly refers to the science of systems that resulted from Bertalanffy’s General System Theory (GST), among others, in initiating what became a project of systems research and practice.
Techno-utopism
A techno-utopist imagines various future scenarios based on hypothetic technological innovations, believing that those technologies will solve all human problems, including environmental issues.
Territorialism
Starting from a critique of sustainable development, Territorialists focus on the increasingly important role of local qualitative development and develop the concept of ‘local self-sustainable development’. This concept emphasizes the balance between directing development toward fundamental human requirements (which cannot be reduced to material needs alone), self-reliance and the development of self-government by local society, and enhancing environmental quality.
Transpersonal ecology
Studies the transcendental and spiritual aspect of the relationship between man and the environment.
Vernacular
Architectural movement which believes the best environmental solutions are those inherited from the past from traditional communities. Vernacular architects are led either by (c.f.) Anarco-primitivism or by localist protectionist reactionary ideologies.
Welfare economics
Welfare economics uses microeconomic techniques to simultaneously determine allocative efficiency within an economy and the income distribution associated with it. It analyzes social welfare, however measured, in terms of economic activities of the individuals that comprise the theoretical society considered. The work of Pigou stresses the distinction between private and social marginal products and costs. He put forward that via a mixture of taxes and subsidies governments can correct such perceived market failures – or ‘internalize the externalities’. Environmental damages of industrial activities are a particular type of negative externality.

izmir expo

izmirexpo from bengi guldogan on Vimeo.

july 2_istanbul(saw)-izmir(abd)

we are flying to Izmir for field study