The Politics of Ecosocialism by Borgnäs, Kajsa; Eskelinen, Teppo; Perkiö, Johanna;

Short description:

This book discusses the idea of "red-green" or "eco-socialist" society and how to get there. In examining today's crises of welfare capitalism as well as the challenges and conflicts of an eco-socialist society, the book analyses a social order that would combine the ideals of egalitarianism and of environmental sustainability.

Long description:

As the global economy seeks to recover from the financial crisis and warnings about the consequences of climate change abound, it is clear that we need a fundamentally new approach to tackle these issues. This innovative book offers a unique perspective, stressing the necessity of both ecological and social change as it discusses how to create a "red-green" or "eco-socialist" society.

Examining the current crises of welfare capitalism as well as the challenges and conflicts of an eco-socialist society, the book proposes a new social order that would combine the ideals of egalitarianism and of environmental sustainability. It analyses the key social and ecological issues related to the welfare state, including green Keynesianism, ecological Marxism, the limits of growth and no-growth, capitalist barriers to a renewable energy transition, proposals for a universal basic income and the role of technology. Finally, the book outlines possible paths of transformation towards creating an eco-socialist society, drawing out lessons that can be applied internationally.

This book will be of great interest to students and researchers in economics, environmental studies and political science.

Table of Contents:

Introduction Kajsa Borgnäs, Teppo Eskelinen, Johanna Perkiö and Rikard Warlenius  Part 1: Yhe Scene 1. Marxist Crisis Theory and the Global Environmental Challenge Kajsa Borgnäs  2. The Sustainability of Welfare Capitalism: Redefining institutions and agency David Eklind Kloo  3. Politics in a World of Scarcity Ville Lähde  Part 2: The Challenge  4. Technology and Sustainability in the Light of Questions of Determinism Fredrik Sjögren  5. A Renewable Energy Transition: Capitalist barriers, socialist enticements  Rikard Warlenius  6. Possibilities and Limits of Green Keynesianism Teppo Eskelinen  7. Commons Against Capitalism Tero Toivanen  Part 3: Strategy and Agency  8. Universal Basic Income: A cornerstone of the new economic order Johanna Perkiö  9. Out of the Frying Pan: People on the move in a warmer world and how to receive them Shora Esmailian  10. Climate Jobs as Tipping Point: Norwegian grassroots challenging the oil and climate change hegemony Andreas Ytterstad  11. Socialism of Barbeque, War Communism or Geo-engineering: Some thoughts on choices in a time of emergency Andreas Malm  12. Afterword John Bellamy Foster