Podcast: Overcoming Purity Politics

The ecological crisis is foremost a crisis in our ways of thinking. In "The Ecology of Ideas" podcast, CBS Associate professor and digital ecologist Attila Márton converses with thought leaders in an attempt to learn about how we have to change our philosophies to develop an ecologic style of thinking. In this episode, the concept of Purity Politics is discussed, as well as collective action as an alternative, and a hopeful way to face ecological challenges.

By CBS Executive Education

Facing the ecological crisis can feel overwhelming, often leading to despair or the belief that individual action is pointless. In this episode, Attila Márton speaks with Alexis Shotwell, professor of sociology and anthropology at Carleton University in Canada, who challenges this mindset.

Alexis introduces the concept of Purity Politics - the idea that only those who meet certain moral or ideological standards are allowed to participate in collective action. This belief, she argues, can stifle our political impulses and prevent meaningful collaboration.

Together, they explore how to move beyond purity politics, reconnect with collective action, and find hope in the face of ecological challenges.

This episode is part of the Ecology of Ideas podcast.

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Attila Márton is Associate Professor at the Department of Digitalisation at CBS.

His primary research areas are:

Ecological Thinking and the Future(s) of Organisation
The Political Ecology of AI
Transplanetary Ecology

Attila looks at making digitalisation serve humanity: "I call myself a digital ecologist, as I am drawing on ecological thinking to understand our “togetherness” when it comes to the digital transformation of fundamental aspects of the human condition and beyond. To this effect, I am currently exploring the co-evolutionary dynamics between platforms and their respective ecosystems, the political ecology of digital labour and AI, the sociology of digital knowledge and forgetting, and, when I get to it, the expansion of humanity into outer space."

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Podcast: Overcoming Purity Politics

Overcoming purity politics

Attila Márton

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