The European Tribune is a forum for thoughtful dialogue of European and international issues. You are invited to post comments and your own articles.
Please REGISTER to post.
This anthology has as its purpose to "stimulate a social ecology that can unite and enrich both `reds' and `greens'" (x). This may be a valid goal for European politics; I don't know. I have my doubts about its efficacy in the American context.
Maybe an American introduction to ecosocialism (Joel Kovel's The Enemy of Nature comes to mind, only not so academic or expensive) would address itself to a general audience. Perhaps an ecosocialist movement would develop more readily from the ranks of the uncommitted public rather than by starting with those who have adopted a political position in the American context. It would then be free of the stultifying "orthodox Marxism" of the far left in this country, as well as of the "green capitalism" of the Green Party's orthodoxy.
The fact that in the US ecosocialism is completely out of the mainstream and would have to appeal to the "uncommitted public" is, I think, a reflection of how far to the right the political discourse is. When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
Fuzzy hopes for a more ecological future won't work unless they can tap into a sense of direct personal participation. Capitalism is amazingly good at this - it makes politics personal. When you shop, it's personal ('Because you're special...') When you work, it's personal. When you buy a new home, it's personal.
Eco-socialists don't have anything like the same level of participation to offer. It's assumed that everyone will be happy living in straw bale housing with a vegetable plot and a couple of windmills. But in reality that kind of lifestyle only appeals to those who are already converted.
You don't get from A to B by telling people this is how they should live - not even if the alternative is death. People are going to need more than that before they're willing to make the change.
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 10 3 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 1 6 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 3 22 comments
by Oui - Sep 6 3 comments
by gmoke - Aug 25 1 comment
by Frank Schnittger - Aug 21 1 comment
by Frank Schnittger - Aug 22 56 comments
by Oui - Aug 18 8 comments
by Oui - Sep 10
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 103 comments
by Oui - Sep 9
by Oui - Sep 8
by Oui - Sep 81 comment
by Oui - Sep 7
by Oui - Sep 63 comments
by Oui - Sep 54 comments
by gmoke - Sep 5
by Oui - Sep 41 comment
by Oui - Sep 47 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 322 comments
by Oui - Sep 211 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 16 comments
by Oui - Sep 114 comments
by Oui - Sep 196 comments
by Oui - Sep 11 comment
by gmoke - Aug 29