Eco-Emancipation: An Earthly Politics of Freedom

Human domination of nature is exploitative and exploited,constraining and exploiting people and nonhuman parts of nature. Eco-emancipation calls for new institutional arrangements to incorporate nonhuman parts of nature,combining these with political activism,a public ethos of respect for nature,and a culture of eco-responsibility to release the Earth from human domination and free us from a way of life that is both exploitative and exploited.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The case for an eco-emancipatory politics is compelling and urgent,as human domination of nature shapes every aspect of our lives today,even as it remains largely invisible to us. Because human beings are a part of nature, the human domination of nature inevitably leads to the confinement and exploitation of people, not only the poor and marginalized but also the privileged and affluent, even in the most prosperous societies. While modern democracy establishes constraints intended to protect people from domination as the arbitrary exercise of power, it offers few such protections for nonhuman parts of nature. As a result, wherever we fall in the human hierarchy, we inevitably find ourselves both complicit in and entrapped by a system that makes sustainable living all but impossible.

Eco-Emancipation, written by Sharon Krause, presents a compelling argument for a better and freer life by constraining the use of human power in relation to nature and promoting the well-being of nature alongside our own. Through this approach, we can release the Earth from human domination and free ourselves from a way of life that is both exploitative and exploited, complicit and entrapped.

Eco-emancipation calls for the creation of new, more-than-human political communities that incorporate nonhuman parts of nature through institutions of representation and regimes of rights. These new institutional arrangements should be combined with political activism, a public ethos of respect for nature, and a culture of eco-responsibility. By doing so, we can create a more just and sustainable world that recognizes the intrinsic value of all forms of life and works towards a future where human beings and nature can thrive together.

In conclusion, the case for eco-emancipatory politics is a powerful one that demands our immediate attention. By constraining the use of human power in relation to nature and promoting the well-being of nature alongside our own, we can break free from the chains of human domination and create a more just and sustainable world for all. It is time for us to embrace this vision and work towards a future where human beings and nature can live in harmony and balance.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691242255