Structural Ahimsa vs. Commodity Ahimsa
moving Jainism beyond Ethical Consumption towards Systemic Transformation
The principle of ahimsa—non-violence—lies at the heart of Jain philosophy, offering a profound framework for ethical living. Traditionally, ahimsa has guided personal conduct, encouraging individuals to avoid harming living beings through their daily choices. In the modern world, this has often manifested as Commodity Ahimsa, which focuses on reducing harm through consumer choices like adopting veganism, purchasing cruelty-free products, or minimizing material consumption.
While these practices are commendable, they fail to address the deeper systemic forces that perpetuate violence and exploitation on a much broader scale. Structural Ahimsa, by contrast, expands the scope of non-violence beyond individual consumer behavior, advocating for a more radical transformation of societal systems that perpetuate harm.
This post introduces the theory of Structural Ahimsa and explores why a shift toward systemic change is essential in addressing the root causes of violence in today’s world.
The Limitations of Commodity Ahimsa
Commodity Ahimsa refers to the practice of non-violence through consumer choices and lifestyle decisions. On the surface, this approach offers individuals a sense of ethical engagement by allowing them to align their consumption habits with their values. Actions like choosing plant-based diets, avoiding fast fashion, or purchasing sustainable goods can reduce personal participation in harmful industries.
However, this approach is limited in its scope:
Superficiality: Commodity Ahimsa operates at the level of individual actions without challenging the larger systems that sustain exploitation. For example, while plant-based diets may reduce direct harm to animals, they often fail to address the environmental degradation and labor exploitation endemic to industrial agriculture.
Commodification of Ethics: Under capitalism, ethical consumerism has been commodified. Ethical products are marketed as a means of alleviating guilt while leaving the systemic drivers of harm untouched. This commodification pacifies consumers by offering a false sense of participation in social change while reinforcing the very systems that perpetuate inequality and violence.
Reinforcement of Inequality: Ethical consumerism is often accessible only to those with financial privilege. Ethical products tend to be priced higher, excluding many from participating in this "moral economy." As a result, Commodity Ahimsa reinforces socio-economic divides, making non-violence a privilege available only to the wealthy.
Distraction from Collective Action: By emphasizing individual responsibility, Commodity Ahimsa diverts attention away from the broader political and economic systems that drive large-scale harm. It encourages an atomized approach to non-violence, reducing it to a matter of personal consumption rather than collective action. This often pacifies would-be activists by convincing them that their consumer habits are sufficient to create change.
Introducing Structural Ahimsa: A Systemic Approach to Non-Violence
Structural Ahimsa offers a more comprehensive and transformative approach to non-violence by shifting the focus from personal choices to systemic transformation. It recognizes that violence is not only the result of individual actions but is embedded in the political, economic, and social systems that organize society. True non-violence, therefore, requires dismantling these systems and building new structures that promote justice, equity, and sustainability.
Key Principles of Structural Ahimsa
Addressing Structural Violence: Structural Ahimsa begins by recognizing the existence of structural violence—a concept introduced by Johan Galtung—which describes how social, political, and economic systems harm individuals by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. Systems like capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy create conditions of exploitation, inequality, and environmental degradation. Structural Ahimsa seeks to dismantle these systems and replace them with structures that promote collective well-being.
Rejecting the Commodification of Ethics: Structural Ahimsa rejects the idea that non-violence can be commodified. Instead, it calls for systems that center on community care, environmental stewardship, and mutual aid. Ethics must be embedded in the structures of society, not sold as products. By breaking free from capitalist frameworks, Structural Ahimsa prioritizes collective well-being over profit.
Equity and Accessibility: Unlike Commodity Ahimsa, which often reinforces economic elitism, Structural Ahimsa advocates for inclusivity and equity. It demands that non-violence be accessible to all, not just those with the economic means to make ethical choices. This requires addressing the root causes of inequality and creating systems that promote justice and fairness for everyone, particularly the most marginalized.
Collective Action for Systemic Change: Structural Ahimsa emphasizes the importance of collective action. While individual efforts are meaningful, they are insufficient to dismantle the deeply entrenched systems of violence. Structural Ahimsa calls for organized collective resistance—whether through policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, or social movements—that challenges the structures of harm and builds more just alternatives.
Applying Structural Ahimsa
To move beyond ethical consumerism and engage in Structural Ahimsa, we must turn our focus to the following areas:
Economic Transformation: Structural Ahimsa demands a radical rethinking of economic systems that prioritize human dignity, ecological sustainability, and equity over profit. This could involve supporting cooperatives, community-based enterprises, and alternative economies that align with the principles of non-violence.
Social Justice and Policy Reform: Achieving Structural Ahimsa requires systemic reform that addresses the root causes of inequality and injustice. This involves advocating for policies that dismantle systemic racism, sexism, and classism while creating legal and political frameworks that promote equity.
Environmental Stewardship: Structural Ahimsa extends non-violence to the environment by challenging systems that drive ecological destruction. It advocates for systemic changes that promote sustainable living, environmental protection, and climate justice.
Healthcare and Well-Being: Non-violence in healthcare means building systems that prioritize well-being for all, especially the most vulnerable. Structural Ahimsa calls for universal healthcare systems that are equitable, accessible, and rooted in holistic care.
Restorative and Transformative Justice: Structural Ahimsa envisions a justice system that is focused on healing and rehabilitation, rather than punishment. This involves advocating for restorative justice practices that address harm while promoting accountability and reconciliation within communities.
The Urgency of Structural Ahimsa
As global crises such as climate change, inequality, and systemic violence accelerate, it is clear that Commodity Ahimsa alone cannot address the magnitude of the problems we face. While personal consumer choices may alleviate individual guilt, they cannot dismantle the systems that are driving violence and exploitation on a massive scale. Now, more than ever, we need a shift toward Structural Ahimsa—one that engages with the root causes of violence and works toward systemic transformation.
