Recent books on ecosocialism, Africa, climate, capitalism, hunger, and much more
Ecosocialist Bookshelf is a monthly column, hosted by Ian Angus. Books described here may be reviewed at length in future. Inclusion of a book does not imply endorsement, or that C&C agrees with everything (or even anything!) it says. Climate & Capitalism has received review copies of some of these books, but we do not receive any payment for reviews or for reader purchases.
William K. Carroll
REFUSING ECOCIDE
From Fossil Capitalism to a Liveable World
Routledge
An important contribution to Marxist ecology. Paying close attention to the ways in which fossil capitalism has subjected the world to its predatory logic, Bill Carroll calls for building an Ecosocialist Bloc—an alliance of all the social forces with an interest in ending fossil capitalism. “Building that bloc while pursuing tactical struggles day-to-day in the ongoing war of position is our best bet in refusing ecocide… Our current trajectory is indeed perilous but there is still time to correct course.”
Nnimmo Bassey, Editor
POLITICS OF TURBULENT WATERS
Reflections on Ecological, Environmental and Climate Crises in Africa
Daraja Press
A rich anthology of frontline reports from environmental/climate justice and food sovereignty advocates from across Africa and the globe. Originally published in the indispensable Nigerian magazine Eco-Instigator, they witness against the powers and structures that are suffocating the rights of the people to a healthy environment, and speak eloquently on behalf of those who are fighting to regain to retake control of their food and agricultural systems.
Vaclav Smil
HOW TO FEED THE WORLD
A Factful Guide
Penguin Random House
Like Smil’s previous books, this one is deeply researched, an invaluable source of data. If you’re looking for a statistic about food and hunger you’ll likely find it here. But while numbers don’t lie, neither do they tell us how to escape a social and economic system that produces too much food while starving so many people.
Jens Beckert
HOW WE SOLD OUR FUTURE
The Failure to Fight Climate Change
Polity Books
Why is nothing being done to stop global heating? Beckert argues that the structures of capitalist modernity can only operate at the cost of destroying the natural environment, and attempts to address global warming are bound to fail. “We simply do not have the time to first overturn the existing social order, then build a new one, and then finally tackle the climate problem.”
Malcolm Harris
WHAT’S LEFT
Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis
Little, Brown
Harris examines three possible directions for collective political action against the climate apocalypse—markets, public ownership, and communism—and concludes that each has both strengths and weaknesses. He argues that “we don’t have time for a long arc,” and we must take concrete action before it’s too late.