INSTRUCTIONS
At the end of her piece, Naomi Klein argues that “degrowth”—working to “consume less, right away”
(225)—is necessary to solve the environmental and social devastation caused by neoliberal capitalism. The
political will to make this change, however, seems to be lacking: as Klein writes, “Challenging free trade
orthodoxy is a heavy lift in our political culture; anything that has been in place for that long takes on an air
of inevitability” (222).
Meanwhile, Giridharadas describes another mechanism through which change is
prevented: the class of “thought leaders” who work to “emphasize hopeful solutions over systemic change”
(92). Giridharadas argues that this culture of the thought leader impedes our ability to find “the solution of
our biggest shared problems” (111). For your first paper, answer the following question using textual
evidence and analysis of both Klein and Giridharadas: How do the “hopeful solutions” of Giridharadas’s
“thought leaders” prevent solutions to social and environmental problems like climate change?
THOUGHT-PROVOKERS
Here are some thought questions to get you started on this prompt. Please do not answer these questions as a
list for the purposes of organizing your paper – that approach will not lead you to success. Instead, use these
questions to begin understanding the prompt above, and to begin formulating your own, independent,
textually based response. Remember that your paper must quote both essays directly.
• How does Klein think that “degrowth” will help climate change? Will people who believe in the “free
trade orthodoxy” (Klein 222) happily go along with degrowth?
• How does “profit-seeking logic” (Klein 224) affect both climate change and complex thought?
• Is there any value to “the kind of change that leaves the underlying issues untouched” (Giridharadas
109)? Does Giridharadas think so? What about Klein?
• Giridharadas takes issue with “theories of change that are personal, individual, depoliticized,
respectful of the status quo and the system, and not in the least bit disruptive” (120). What does
Klein think about the role of individuals in preventing climate change?
• How do changes individuals make become changes that affect the “underlying issues” (Giridharadas 109)?
FORMAT
You must proofread carefully.
Quotations should be carefully transcribed, punctuated, and attributed. For bibliographic conventions, use
MLA style. Use 1.0-inch margins on all sides, double-spacing, and twelve-point Times New Roman font.
Number all pages. Your submission should have your name, the date, and course information on the first page.
Submit your work via Canvas in either .docx or .pdf format. Google docs and .pages files are not acceptable.
Email submissions are not acceptable.
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