How We Sold Our Future

A guide for creating realistic climate policies

 

»Climate change is a question of power and culture. Making it a topic of study for the social sciences.«

We have known about global warming and its dangers for decades. Yet global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Clearly, we are failing in our quest to stop climate change. But how can we explain this failure? Why are societies so reluctant to respond to this threat? In his new book, Jens Beckert provides an answer. The fact that the necessary measures are not being taken is a result of the structures of political power and of the forces that motivate companies, politicians, voters, and consumers. The bitter truth is that we are selling our future to boost the next quarterly figures, to snare the upcoming elections, or for our own, shortsighted enjoyment.

Using numerous case studies and social-scientific tools, Beckert shows why climate change is an “insidious” problem that capitalist modernity – the product of 500 years of development – is almost doomed to fail at resolving due to its institutional and cultural structures. Meaning temperatures will continue to rise, and social and political conflicts will intensify. What we need is adaptability, resilience, and above all, solidarity. With these ideals in mind, we can begin to sketch out a horizon for realistic climate policies.

»How We Sold Our Future [offers] an excellent panorama of the issues, rich in material and highly readable.« Meike Fessmann, Der Tagesspiegel

»Beckert’s analysis draws its strength from its realistic perspective … a rewarding read.« Aschot Manutscharjan, Das Parliament

»[Beckert’s] book stands out starkly from the field of other books on the climate and biodiversity crisis.« Torsten Harmsen, Berliner Zeitung

»In a sober manner, Beckert demands more realism.« Joachim Müller-Jung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

»... great clarity, lucid expertise, and enlightened pragmatism.« Berthold Vogel, soziopolis.de