research@hec - Issue #25 - (Page II)

research Capitalism in the face of the ecological crisis BY INCORPORATING CRITICISMS, CAPITALISM ENSURES ITS SUSTAINABILITY Capitalism does not spontaneously rectify the social or environmental problems that it creates. Criticism keeps it in line. By forcing capitalism justify its practices, criticism allows it to either strengthen its legitimacy or evolve to address some of the issues it raises. “The strength of capitalism lies in its ability to incorporate objections and attacks. This is probably what has ensured its robustness,” says Eve Chiapello. “Some reform ideas were incorporated into managerial practices because they were sources of profit, they served to motivate employees to accept certain changes sought by companies, or because they were the only means to silence a wave of criticism that could shake the economy. On the other hand, if reform proposals are too expensive, companies are reluctant to inteThe history of capitalism is intimately linked to the history of its criticisms. And periods of crisis have always been privileged times to incorporate the ideas of reform movements. Usual practices no longer work and new ones must be found. The market economy has adopted some of the ideas of critical movements, but only those that did not call into question profit-seeking and the pursuit of its objectives. The ecological criticism, which in some ways seems to fundamentally call into question capitalism, could change all that. How the economic system can incorporate this constraint Capitalism has always been criticized, and, over time, it has integrated some market economy? of the ideas of reform movements. This has allowed it to continue to develop. But can the current ecological critique — which, in some ways, seems to call capitalism fundamentally into question — find its place in the dynamics of the hec Eve Chiapello BIOGRAPHY Eve Chiapello teaches economic sociology, qualitative research methods, and history of criticisms of business at HEC Paris. She cocreated HEC’s specialized program on alternative management. She is also co-holder of the Renault-PolytechniqueHEC Chair on multicultural management. She is notably the author of grate them. If pressure to change is too high, they will be tempted to reorganize their means of production to find other sources of profit.” Artistes versus Managers (Métailié 1998) and Le Nouvel esprit du capitalisme (Gallimard 1999, with Luc Boltanski). THE FOUR TYPES OF CRITICISM: CONSERVATIVE, SOCIAL, ARTISTIC, ECOLOGICAL From its conception, criticism has taken four forms, says Chiapello. Conservative criticism denounces the immorality of capitalism but supports the idea that power should be concentrated in the hands of the most capable, who thus have a social responsibility. Artistic criticism reproaches capitalism’s oppression and inauthenticity. It calls for creativity, freedom, and autonomy. As for social criticism, it denounces exploitation by the ruling class that generates poverty and inequality. Finally, ecological criticism highlights the interdependence between generations and species as well as the irreversible and deleterious effects of human activity on the planet. It rejects the idea of unlimited economic growth and questions the ability of the capitalist system to ensure the survival of humanity. CAN ECOLOGICAL CRITICISM MAKE THE MARKET ECONOMY TO CHANGE? As long as growth in GDP is seen as the only path towards human progress and job creation, ecological criticism will run up against social questions. “But a connection between social and ecological II research@hec • February - March 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of research@hec - Issue #25

Cover & Contents
Capitalism in the face of the ecological crisis
Increase innovativeness by shaping managerial perceptions of their environments
Europe and business law: Still far from complete harmonization
HEC Paris News

research@hec - Issue #25