Transitions Toward an Egalitarian Society: Placing Life Care at the Center of Politics

Transiciones hacia una sociedad igualitaria: el cuidado de la vida en el centro de la política

This work proposes adopting the notion of care as the starting point for our theorizing around the transition to an eco-socially sustainable and feminist system. Human beings live embedded in life-sustaining mutual care relationships. This perspective confronts us with the fact that no being is completely independent. It forces us to acknowledge that all people go through vulnerability and that we are, to varying degrees throughout our lives and particular contexts, (inter)dependent beings. Drawing on political scientist Joan Tronto’s notion of care democracy, thinking of ourselves within a web of care relationships and practices involves situating the power dynamics that distribute care privileges and responsibilities unequally. It also allows us to conceive strategies to upend these inequalities, placing life at the center of analysis and politics.

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