Earth democracy (Zed Books)

A leading voice in the environmental movement, Vandana Shiva has played a key role in bringing the struggles for social and ecological justice to international attention. Earth Democracy remains one of her key works, in which she addresses some of the most pressing issues of our age – the privatization of our natural resources, the looming environmental crisis, and the rising tide of fundamentalism and violence against women. Shiva sees these developments as part of a long-running historical process, by which the global commons has been steadily eroded by the increasing commodification of our shared resources. Neoliberal globalization has resulted in social and economic exclusion, fuelled violent conflicts around the world and now threatens the very future of our planet. In spite of all this, Shiva still sees cause for hope. Across the globe, a new wave of protest movements are championing alternatives based on inclusion, nonviolence, the free sharing of resources and the reclamation of the commons. Shiva argues that these ideals can serve as the basis for “earth democracy”, and for a more just and sustainable future. This edition features a new preface by the author, in which she outlines recent developments in ecology and environmentalism, and offers new prescriptions for the environmental movement.