Sociogrowth and Whiteness as Growth

Growthism is cardinal and core to contemporary society, particularly under capitalist regimes where wealth accumulation and resource exploitation are pursued with a logic of infinite expansion. Degrowth scholars have engaged in both academic and activist deliberations on the dangers of perpetual economic growth, forming political coalitions and producing a range of literature. What critiques of growth often lack is a sociological and critical race theory lens, or references to race altogether, despite the very nature of capitalism being racialized. In this paper, whiteness is understood as having developed alongside growthist capitalism, not as isolated instruments but as an aggregate. In fact, whiteness has and continues to operate ideologically and materially as growth. From chattel slavery and land theft to the wages of whiteness, this racial invention is deeply tied to economic growth, and transcending white dominance and growth economics must be pursued in tandem.