Eco-Socialism For Now and the Future: Practical Utopias and Rational Action (Palgrave Insights into Apocalypse Economics)

It is increasingly apparent that capitalism cannot stave off the truly frightening ecological disasters that threaten the future of life on earth. Is it an accident that the strongest and most capitalist economic force in the world, the US, is also that force that is most prone to the denial of the enormous dangers of global warming? While capitalism is a global force, it is not supported by the majority of the world, and much more thought and action is needed to integrate and globalize movements against oppression, injustice and ecological destruction. While changes at a local level are important and more feasible in our current world, ultimately changes at a global level may have greater long-term importance, and we need to greatly expand theorizations and mobilizations in this direction now. Robert Albritton proposes 'practical utopias' as a process of thinking by which short-term changes tend in the direction of desirable changes in the long term.-- Provided by publisher Praise for Eco-Socialism For Now and the Future 7 Contents 12 1 Introduction: Rethinking Time and Space 14 Eco-Socialism 18 Capitalism in Retreat 21 Practical Utopias 23 Rationality 25 Bibliography 29 2 Hobbes and Locke: “Fear of Death, Poverty, or Other Calamity” (Hobbes, Leviathan, p. 88) 30 Bibliography 40 3 Marx’s Devastating Critique of Capitalism 41 Three Purposes 45 Deforestation 48 Bibliography 55 4 Ethics and Education: Possessive Individualism Versus Global Caring 57 Ethics 58 Education 61 Militarism and Education 67 Race and Education 69 Bibliography 72 5 The Super Rich: Billions Versus Poverty 74 Tax Havens 80 Employment and Unemployment 82 Urbanks (Democratic Finances) 83 Bibliography 87 6 Ever Expanding Militarism 88 Wealth and the Production of Arms 90 Human Costs of War 93 Bibliography 98 7 Why So Many Guns and Prisons? 99 Gun Culture 103 Bibliography 107 8 Water and Land 108 Water 110 Land 118 Bibliography 122 9 Conclusion: “Time and Tides Wait for No One” 123 Health 123 Capitalist Debts 126 Bibliography 129 Index 131 Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Introduction: Rethinking Time and Space (Robert Albritton)....Pages 1-16 Hobbes and Locke: “Fear of Death, Poverty, or Other Calamity” (Hobbes, Leviathan, p. 88) (Robert Albritton)....Pages 17-27 Marx’s Devastating Critique of Capitalism (Robert Albritton)....Pages 29-44 Ethics and Education: Possessive Individualism Versus Global Caring (Robert Albritton)....Pages 45-61 The Super Rich: Billions Versus Poverty (Robert Albritton)....Pages 63-76 Ever Expanding Militarism (Robert Albritton)....Pages 77-87 Why So Many Guns and Prisons? (Robert Albritton)....Pages 89-97 Water and Land (Robert Albritton)....Pages 99-113 Conclusion: “Time and Tides Wait for No One” (Robert Albritton)....Pages 115-122 Back Matter ....Pages 123-132